Method and System For Implementing Content Navigation Or Selection Using Touch-Based Input

ABSTRACT

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content streaming or playback, and, more particularly, for implementing content navigation or selection using touch-based input. In various embodiments, a computing system might display a first video content on a display screen of a main display device and on a touchscreen display of a user device, the first video content displayed on one mirroring that displayed on the other. In response to receiving user input via the touchscreen display, the computing system might shift display of the first video content along a first direction consistent with the user input while displaying and shifting display of a second video content along the first direction such that the two video content are adjacent to each other during shifting. The computing system might mirror the display and the shifting of the display of the first and the second video content on the display screen.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/403,843 (the “'843 Application”), filed Oct. 4, 2016 by Zubin Ingahet al. (attorney docket no. 020370-030901US), entitled, “Novel Mechanismfor Content Selection Using Touchscreen or Touchpad,” the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

This application may be related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.______ (the “'031900US Application”), filed on a date even herewith byMichael D. Sprenger et al. (attorney docket no. 020370-031900US),entitled, “Method and System for Implementing Advanced Audio Shifting,”which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/435,992(the “'992 Application”), filed Dec. 19, 2016 by Michael D. Sprenger etal. (attorney docket no. 020370-031901US), entitled, “Advanced AudioFading Mechanism,” the disclosures of both of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

The respective disclosures of these applications/patents (which thisdocument refers to collectively as the “Related Applications”) areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates, in general, to methods, systems, andapparatuses for implementing media content streaming or playback, and,more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingcontent navigation or selection using touch-based input.

BACKGROUND

In conventional television, conventional video-on-demand (“VoD”)systems, conventional streaming services and systems, conventionaldigital video recording (“DVR”) systems, and/or the like, selection ofcontent and/or channels requires the users to use cursor keys on aremote controller or remote control device, to use a mouse or similarpointing device, or to use similar kinds of keys or similar inputmethods to navigate to and select the desired channel or content item.In some cases, this can be a clumsy and tedious process.

Such conventional techniques for content and/or channel selection,however, do not utilize touch input on a user device to swipe through aplurality of content and tap to select particular content or channel,nor do these conventional techniques utilize shifting effects (e.g.,scrolling, sliding, etc.). Such conventional techniques also do notallow for mirroring in real time (or near real time), on a main displaydevice, the selection process that is displayed on thetouchscreen-enabled user device with which the user is interacting.Further, such conventional techniques do not play video content (eitherclip or full video) while the user is selecting amongst the plurality ofvideo content. Rather, such conventional techniques use still or staticimages (e.g., station or channel logos, content screen shots, posterimages, or other representations of selected or currently playingcontent, etc.)

Hence, there is a need for more intuitive, robust, and scalablesolutions for implementing media content streaming or playback, and,more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingcontent navigation or selection using touch-based input.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particularembodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions ofthe specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals areused to refer to similar components. In some instances, a sub-label isassociated with a reference numeral to denote one of multiple similarcomponents. When reference is made to a reference numeral withoutspecification to an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to allsuch multiple similar components.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for implementingcontent navigation or selection using touch-based input, in accordancewith various embodiments.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodimentsof a system that may be used for implementing content navigation orselection using touch-based input.

FIGS. 3A-3G are flow diagrams illustrating various embodiments of userinterfaces and display screens during implementation of contentnavigation or selection using touch-based input.

FIGS. 4A-4C are flow diagrams illustrating a method for implementingcontent navigation or selection using touch-based input, in accordancewith various embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer or systemhardware architecture, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a networked system of computers,computing systems, or system hardware architecture, which can be used inaccordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Overview

Various embodiments provide tools and techniques for implementing mediacontent streaming or playback, and, more particularly, to methods,systems, and apparatuses for implementing content navigation orselection using touch-based input.

In various embodiments, a computing system might display a first videocontent on at least a portion of a display screen of a main displaydevice and display the first video content on at least a portion of atouchscreen display of a user device, the first video content beingdisplayed on the at least a portion of the touchscreen display of theuser device mirroring in real time (or near real time) the first videocontent being displayed on the at least a portion of the display screenof the main display device. The computing system might receive userinput via the touchscreen display of the user device, the user inputcomprising a first swipe in a first direction relative to a referencepoint on the touchscreen display of the user device. In response toreceiving the user input, the computing system might shift display ofthe first video content along the first direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display while displaying and shifting displayof, with the computing system, a second video content along the firstdirection on the at least a portion of the touchscreen display such thatthe first video content and the second video content are adjacent toeach other while display of the first video content and the second videocontent are being shifted. The computing system might mirror the displayand the shifting of the display of the first video content and thesecond video content on the at least a portion of the display screen ofthe main display device in real time (or near real time).

According to some embodiments, the computing system might comprise oneof a set-top box, a small streaming device (e.g., a “streaming stick,”or the like), a digital video recording (“DVR”) device, a processor onthe main display device running a software application (“app”), aprocessor on the user device running an app, a server computer over anetwork, a cloud-based computing system over a network, a media player,or a gaming console, and/or the like. In some cases, the main displaydevice might comprise one of a television set, a smart television, aprojection system, a computer monitor, or a laptop monitor, and/or thelike. In some instances, the user device might comprise one of a laptopcomputer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personaldigital assistant, a remote control device, or a portable gaming device,and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the shifting of the display of each of the firstvideo content or the second video content might comprise one of ascrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flipping effect, a transitioningeffect, or a dragging effect, and/or the like. Alternatively, oradditionally, the shifting of the display of each of the first videocontent or the second video content might comprise dynamic cropping ofeach of the first video content or the second video content such thatthe first video content and the second video content maintain theirdisplay resolution and size while both are being partially displayedduring shifting. In some cases, the first video content might be videocontent that is broadcast on a first broadcast channel, while the secondvideo content might be video content that is broadcast on a secondbroadcast channel. In some instances, the first video content and thesecond video content might be video content among a plurality of videocontent available for browsing or viewing in one of a video on demand(“VoD”) platform, a video streaming platform, a small streaming device(e.g., a “streaming stick,” or the like), or a digital video recording(“DVR”) platform, and/or the like.

Merely by way of example, the swiping direction might be vertical,horizontal, or diagonal, and/or the like. The first and second videocontent can be part of a plurality of video content, which in some casesmight be arranged in a grid pattern, might be grouped by genre orcategory, might be episodes among a plurality of episodes in a series(or a season within a series), and/or the like. Additional user inputmight include zoom functionality. Hand gestures that are typically usedto manipulate graphical user interfaces—including, but not limited to,“zoom and pinch” finger gestures, or the like—can be used to zoom in andout of a content grid pattern, or the like. Other user input mightinclude fast swipe functionality, which allows for continuous and rapidshifting of multiple video content along a swipe direction (as describedin detail below with respect to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4).

In some embodiments, audio presentation during shifting or during gridview might include presentation, through one or more audio playbackdevices or speakers communicatively coupled to one of the computingsystem, the main display device, or the user device, of one of audiocontent corresponding to a user-selected video content among a pluralityof video content, audio content corresponding to a video content amongtwo or more video content that fills a majority of the display area ofthe touchscreen display of the user device or of the display screen ofthe main display device, audio content corresponding to a video contentamong two or more video content that covers a center position of thedisplay area of the touchscreen display of the user device or of thedisplay screen of the main display device, and/or the like.

According to some embodiments, the computing system (and/or at least oneof the user device or the main display device) might display contentinformation associated with one or more of the video content oncorresponding at least one of the touchscreen display of the user deviceor of the display screen of the main display device. The contentinformation might include, but is not limited to, one or more of channelor stream information; title or name of video content; brief descriptionof video content; information regarding actors, directors, productioncrew, studio, or persons of interest associated with the video content;length of video content; remaining length of video content playback;trailers; related content (e.g., prequels, sequels, other episodes inearlier seasons, other episodes in current season, other episodes inlater seasons, etc.); filming locations; still pictures associated withthe video content; trivia; and/or the like. In some embodiments, thecontent information might be either displayed overlaid over thecorresponding video content or displayed in a separate portion of the atleast one of the touchscreen display of the user device or of thedisplay screen of the main display device on which neither the videocontent nor any other video content are being displayed.

The following detailed description illustrates a few exemplaryembodiments in further detail to enable one of skill in the art topractice such embodiments. The described examples are provided forillustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the described embodiments. It will be apparent to oneskilled in the art, however, that other embodiments of the presentinvention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Inother instances, certain structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form. Several embodiments are described herein, and whilevarious features are ascribed to different embodiments, it should beappreciated that the features described with respect to one embodimentmay be incorporated with other embodiments as well. By the same token,however, no single feature or features of any described embodimentshould be considered essential to every embodiment of the invention, asother embodiments of the invention may omit such features.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers used herein to expressquantities, dimensions, and so forth used should be understood as beingmodified in all instances by the term “about.” In this application, theuse of the singular includes the plural unless specifically statedotherwise, and use of the terms “and” and “or” means “and/or” unlessotherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term “including,” as wellas other forms, such as “includes” and “included,” should be considerednon-exclusive. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompassboth elements and components comprising one unit and elements andcomponents that comprise more than one unit, unless specifically statedotherwise.

Various embodiments described herein, while embodying (in some cases)software products, computer-performed methods, and/or computer systems,represent tangible, concrete improvements to existing technologicalareas, including, without limitation, media content streaming ordownloading technology, media content navigation or selectiontechnology, user interface technology and/or the like. In other aspects,certain embodiments, can improve the functioning of user equipment orsystems themselves (e.g., media players, set-top boxes (“STBs”), mediacontent streaming or downloading systems, etc.), for example, byreceiving, with the computing system, user input via the touchscreendisplay of the user device, the user input comprising a first swipe in afirst direction relative to a reference point on the touchscreen displayof the user device; in response to receiving the user input, shifting,with the computing system, display of the first video content along thefirst direction on the at least a portion of the touchscreen displaywhile displaying and shifting display of, with the computing system, asecond video content along the first direction on the at least a portionof the touchscreen display such that the first video content and thesecond video content are adjacent to each other while display of thefirst video content and the second video content are being shifted; andmirroring (in real time (or near real time)), with the computing system,the display and the shifting of the display of the first video contentand the second video content on the at least a portion of the displayscreen of the main display device, and/or the like. In particular, tothe extent any abstract concepts are present in the various embodiments,those concepts can be implemented as described herein by devices,software, systems, and methods that involve specific novel functionality(e.g., steps or operations), such as, in response to receiving the userinput, shifting, with the computing system, display of the first videocontent along the first direction on the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display while displaying and shifting display of, with thecomputing system, a second video content along the first direction onthe at least a portion of the touchscreen display such that the firstvideo content and the second video content are adjacent to each otherwhile display of the first video content and the second video contentare being shifted; and mirroring (in real time (or near real time)),with the computing system, the display and the shifting of the displayof the first video content and the second video content on the at leasta portion of the display screen of the main display device, and/or thelike, which optimizes presentation and navigation of the media content(particularly video content) thus providing for smoother and moreefficient navigation of video content by the user, and/or the like, toname a few examples, that extend beyond mere conventional computerprocessing operations. These functionalities can produce tangibleresults outside of the implementing computer system, including, merelyby way of example, optimized presentation and navigation of mediacontent (including video content) to the user thus providing forsmoother and more efficient navigation of video content by the user,and/or the like, at least some of which may be observed or measured bycustomers and/or service providers.

In an aspect, a method might comprise displaying, with a computingsystem, a first video content on at least a portion of a display screenof a main display device; and displaying, with the computing system, thefirst video content on at least a portion of a touchscreen display of auser device, the first video content being displayed on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display of the user device mirroring thefirst video content being displayed on the at least a portion of thedisplay screen of the main display device. The method might alsocomprise receiving, with the computing system, user input via thetouchscreen display of the user device, the user input comprising afirst swipe in a first direction relative to a reference point on thetouchscreen display of the user device; and, in response to receivingthe user input, shifting, with the computing system, display of thefirst video content along the first direction on the at least a portionof the touchscreen display while displaying and shifting display of,with the computing system, a second video content along the firstdirection on the at least a portion of the touchscreen display such thatthe first video content and the second video content are adjacent toeach other while display of the first video content and the second videocontent are being shifted. The method might further comprise mirroring,with the computing system, the display and the shifting of the displayof the first video content and the second video content on the at leasta portion of the display screen of the main display device.

In some embodiments, the computing system might comprise one of aset-top box, a small streaming device (e.g., a “streaming stick,” or thelike), a digital video recording (“DVR”) device, a processor on the maindisplay device running a software application (“app”), a processor onthe user device running an app, a server computer over a network, acloud-based computing system over a network, a media player, or a gamingconsole, and/or the like. In some cases, the main display device mightcomprise one of a television set, a smart television, a projectionsystem, a computer monitor, or a laptop monitor, and/or the like. Insome instances, the user device might comprise one of a laptop computer,a tablet computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal digitalassistant, a remote control device, or a portable gaming device, and/orthe like.

According to some embodiments, the shifting of the display of each ofthe first video content or the second video content might comprise oneof a scrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flipping effect, atransitioning effect, or a dragging effect, and/or the like.Alternatively or additionally, the shifting of the display of each ofthe first video content or the second video content might comprisedynamic cropping of each of the first video content or the second videocontent such that the first video content and the second video contentmaintain their display resolution and size while both are beingpartially displayed during shifting. In some cases, the first videocontent might be video content that is broadcast on a first broadcastchannel, while the second video content might be video content that isbroadcast on a second broadcast channel. In some instances, the firstvideo content and the second video content might be video content amonga plurality of video content available for browsing or viewing in one ofa video on demand (“VoD”) platform, a video streaming platform, or adigital video recording (“DVR”) platform, and/or the like. In somecases, mirroring the display and the shifting of the display of thefirst video content and the second video content on the at least aportion of the display screen of the main display device might comprisemirroring, with the computing system, the display and the shifting ofthe display of the first video content and the second video content onthe at least a portion of the display screen of the main display device,in real time or near real time

Merely by way of example, in some embodiments, the first direction mightbe one of a vertical direction with respect to a viewing orientation ofthe first video content or a horizontal direction with respect to theviewing orientation of the first video content, or the like. In someinstances, the first video content and the second video content might bevideo content among a plurality of video content that are arranged in agrid pattern with one video content being adjacent to eight videocontent. The first direction, according to some embodiments, might beone of a diagonal direction with respect to a viewing orientation of thefirst video content, and, in response to receiving the user inputcomprising a swipe in the diagonal direction, portions of the pluralityof video content in the grid pattern might be shifted along the diagonaldirection on one or both of the touchscreen display of the user deviceor the display screen of the main display device. In some embodiments,the method might further comprise receiving, with the computing system,a second user input via the touchscreen display of the user device, thesecond user input comprising multiple-finger input indicating one ofzoom-in or zoom-out; in response to receiving the second user input,performing, with the computing system, corresponding one of zooming inor zooming out of display of the plurality of video content in the gridpattern on the at least a portion of the touchscreen display; andmirroring, with the computing system, the corresponding one of zoomingin or zooming out of the display of the plurality of video content inthe grid pattern on the at least a portion of the display screen of themain display device.

According to some embodiments, the method might further comprisedetermining, with the computing system, whether the user has selectedone of the plurality of video content; based on a determination that theuser has selected one of the plurality of video content, presenting orcontinuing presenting, with the computing system, audio contentassociated with the selected one of the plurality of video content; andbased on a determination that the user has not selected any of theplurality of video content, identifying, with the computing system,which one of the plurality of video content covers a center position ofthe at least a portion of the touchscreen display, and presenting orcontinuing presenting, with the computing system, audio contentassociated with the identified video content that covers the centerposition of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display. The audiocontent might be presented using at least one of an audio playbackdevice that is integrated within the main display device, an audioplayback device that is external yet communicatively coupled to the maindisplay device, an audio playback device that is integrated within theuser device, or an audio playback device that is external yetcommunicatively coupled to the user device, and/or the like.

Alternatively, or additionally, the method might further comprisedetermining, with the computing system, whether the second video contentfills at least half of the at least a portion of the touchscreen displayof the user device; based on a determination that the second videocontent fills less than half of the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display of the user device, presenting or continuingpresenting, with the computing system, first audio content associatedwith the first video content; and based on a determination that thesecond video content fills at least half of the at least a portion ofthe touchscreen display of the user device, presenting or continuingpresenting, with the computing system, second audio content associatedwith the second video content. Each of the first audio content or thesecond audio content might be presented using at least one of an audioplayback device that is integrated within the main display device, anaudio playback device that is external yet communicatively coupled tothe main display device, an audio playback device that is integratedwithin the user device, or an audio playback device that is external yetcommunicatively coupled to the user device, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the method might further comprise displaying, withthe computing system, content information associated with each of atleast one of the first video content or the second video content on oneor both of the display screen of the main display device or thetouchscreen display of the user device. The content information might beeither displayed overlaid over corresponding at least one of the firstvideo content or the second video content or displayed in a separateportion of the one or both of the display screen of the main displaydevice or the touchscreen display of the user device on which neitherthe first video content nor the second video content are beingdisplayed, or the like.

In another aspect, an apparatus might comprise at least one processorand a non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled tothe at least one processor. The non-transitory computer readable mediummight have stored thereon computer software comprising a set ofinstructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causesthe apparatus to: display a first video content on at least a portion ofa display screen of a main display device; display the first videocontent on at least a portion of a touchscreen display of a user device,the first video content being displayed on the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display of the user device mirroring the first video contentbeing displayed on the at least a portion of the display screen of themain display device; receive user input via the touchscreen display ofthe user device, the user input comprising a first swipe in a firstdirection relative to a reference point on the touchscreen display ofthe user device; in response to receiving the user input, shift displayof the first video content along the first direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display while displaying and shifting displayof a second video content along the first direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display such that the first video content andthe second video content are adjacent to each other while display of thefirst video content and the second video content are being shifted; andmirror the display and the shifting of the display of the first videocontent and the second video content on the at least a portion of thedisplay screen of the main display device.

In some embodiments, the apparatus might comprise one of a set-top box,a small streaming device (e.g., a “streaming stick,” or the like), adigital video recording (“DVR”) device, a processor on the main displaydevice running a software application (“app”), a processor on the userdevice running an app, a server computer over a network, a cloud-basedcomputing system over a network, a media player, or a gaming console,and/or the like. In some cases, the main display device might compriseone of a television set, a smart television, a projection system, acomputer monitor, or a laptop monitor, and/or the like. In someinstances, the user device might comprise one of a laptop computer, atablet computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal digitalassistant, a remote control device, or a portable gaming device, and/orthe like.

According to some embodiments, the shifting of the display of each ofthe first video content or the second video content might comprise oneof a scrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flipping effect, atransitioning effect, or a dragging effect, and/or the like.Alternatively or additionally, the shifting of the display of each ofthe first video content or the second video content might comprisedynamic cropping of each of the first video content or the second videocontent such that the first video content and the second video contentmaintain their display resolution and size while both are beingpartially displayed during shifting. In some cases, the first videocontent might be video content that is broadcast on a first broadcastchannel, while the second video content might be video content that isbroadcast on a second broadcast channel. In some instances, the firstvideo content and the second video content might be video content amonga plurality of video content available for browsing or viewing in one ofa video on demand (“VoD”) platform, a video streaming platform, or adigital video recording (“DVR”) platform, and/or the like.

Merely by way of example, in some embodiments, the first direction mightbe one of a vertical direction with respect to a viewing orientation ofthe first video content or a horizontal direction with respect to theviewing orientation of the first video content, or the like. In someinstances, the first video content and the second video content might bevideo content among a plurality of video content that are arranged in agrid pattern with one video content being adjacent to eight videocontent. The first direction, according to some embodiments, might beone of a diagonal direction with respect to a viewing orientation of thefirst video content, and, in response to receiving the user inputcomprising a swipe in the diagonal direction, portions of the pluralityof video content in the grid pattern might be shifted along the diagonaldirection on one or both of the touchscreen display of the user deviceor the display screen of the main display device. In some embodiments,the set of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor,might further cause the apparatus to: receive a second user input viathe touchscreen display of the user device, the second user inputcomprising multiple-finger input indicating one of zoom-in or zoom-out;in response to receiving the second user input, perform correspondingone of zooming in or zooming out of display of the plurality of videocontent in the grid pattern on the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay; and mirror the corresponding one of zooming in or zooming outof the display of the plurality of video content in the grid pattern onthe at least a portion of the display screen of the main display device.

According to some embodiments, the set of instructions, when executed bythe at least one processor, might further cause the apparatus to:determine whether the user has selected one of the plurality of videocontent; based on a determination that the user has selected one of theplurality of video content, present or continue presenting audio contentassociated with the selected one of the plurality of video content; andbased on a determination that the user has not selected any of theplurality of video content, identify which one of the plurality of videocontent covers a center position of the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display, and present or continue presenting audio contentassociated with the identified video content that covers the centerposition of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display. The audiocontent might be presented using at least one of an audio playbackdevice that is integrated within the main display device, an audioplayback device that is external yet communicatively coupled to the maindisplay device, an audio playback device that is integrated within theuser device, or an audio playback device that is external yetcommunicatively coupled to the user device, and/or the like.

Alternatively, or additionally, the set of instructions, when executedby the at least one processor, might further cause the apparatus to:determine whether the second video content fills at least half of the atleast a portion of the touchscreen display of the user device; based ona determination that the second video content fills less than half ofthe at least a portion of the touchscreen display of the user device,present or continue presenting first audio content associated with thefirst video content; and based on a determination that the second videocontent fills at least half of the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay of the user device, present or continue presenting second audiocontent associated with the second video content. Each of the firstaudio content or the second audio content might be presented using atleast one of an audio playback device that is integrated within the maindisplay device, an audio playback device that is external yetcommunicatively coupled to the main display device, an audio playbackdevice that is integrated within the user device, or an audio playbackdevice that is external yet communicatively coupled to the user device,and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the set of instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, might further cause the apparatus to: displaycontent information associated with each of at least one of the firstvideo content or the second video content on one or both of the displayscreen of the main display device or the touchscreen display of the userdevice. The content information might be either displayed overlaid overcorresponding at least one of the first video content or the secondvideo content or displayed in a separate portion of the one or both ofthe display screen of the main display device or the touchscreen displayof the user device on which neither the first video content nor thesecond video content are being displayed, or the like.

In yet another aspect, system a computing system, a main display device,and a user device. The computing system might comprise at least onefirst processor and a first non-transitory computer readable mediumcommunicatively coupled to the at least one first processor. The firstnon-transitory computer readable medium might have stored thereoncomputer software comprising a first set of instructions that, whenexecuted by the at least one first processor, causes the computingsystem to: send a first video content to a main display device fordisplay of the first video content on the main display device; and sendthe first video content to a user device for display of the first videocontent on the display device, the first video content being displayedon the user device mirroring the first video content being displayed onthe main display device.

The main display device might comprise a display screen, at least onesecond processor, and a second non-transitory computer readable mediumcommunicatively coupled to the at least one second processor. The secondnon-transitory computer readable medium might have stored thereoncomputer software comprising a second set of instructions that, whenexecuted by the at least one second processor, causes the main displaydevice to: receive the first video content from the computing system;and display the first video content on at least a portion of the displayscreen of the main display device.

The user device might comprise a touchscreen display, at least one thirdprocessor, and a third non-transitory computer readable mediumcommunicatively coupled to the at least one third processor. The thirdnon-transitory computer readable medium might have stored thereoncomputer software comprising a third set of instructions that, whenexecuted by the at least one third processor, causes the user device to:receive the first video content from the computing system; display thefirst video content on at least a portion of the touchscreen display ofthe user device; receive user input via the touchscreen display of theuser device, the user input comprising a first swipe in a firstdirection relative to a reference point on the touchscreen display ofthe user device; and relay the received user input to the computingsystem.

The first set of instructions, when executed by the at least one firstprocessor, might further cause the computing system to: receive the userinput from the user device; in response to receiving the user input,send display commands to the user device to shift display of the firstvideo content along the first direction on the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display while displaying and shifting display of a secondvideo content (in real time or near real time) along the first directionon the at least a portion of the touchscreen display such that the firstvideo content and the second video content are adjacent to each otherwhile display of the first video content and the second video contentare being shifted; and send display commands to the main display deviceto mirror the display and shifting of the display of the first videocontent and the second video content (in real time or near real time) onthe at least a portion of the display screen of the main display device.

The third set of instructions, when executed by the at least one thirdprocessor, might further cause the user device to: in response toreceiving display commands from the computing system, shift display ofthe first video content along the first direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display while displaying and shifting displayof a second video content along the first direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display such that the first video content andthe second video content are adjacent to each other while display of thefirst video content and the second video content are being shifted. Thesecond set of instructions, when executed by the at least one secondprocessor, might further cause the main display device to: in responseto receiving display commands from the computing system, mirror thedisplay and shifting of the display of the first video content and thesecond video content (in real time or near real time) on the at least aportion of the display screen of the main display device.

In some embodiments, the apparatus might comprise one of a set-top box,a small streaming device (e.g., a “streaming stick,” or the like), adigital video recording (“DVR”) device, a processor on the main displaydevice running a software application (“app”), a processor on the userdevice running an app, a server computer over a network, a cloud-basedcomputing system over a network, a media player, or a gaming console,and/or the like. In some cases, the main display device might compriseone of a television set, a smart television, a projection system, acomputer monitor, or a laptop monitor, and/or the like. In someinstances, the user device might comprise one of a laptop computer, atablet computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal digitalassistant, a remote control device, or a portable gaming device, and/orthe like.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the embodimentsdiscussed without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, while the embodiments described above refer to particularfeatures, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments havingdifferent combination of features and embodiments that do not includeall of the above described features.

Specific Exemplary Embodiments

We now turn to the embodiments as illustrated by the drawings. FIGS. 1-6illustrate some of the features of the method, system, and apparatus forimplementing media content streaming or playback, and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingcontent navigation or selection using touch-based input, as referred toabove. The methods, systems, and apparatuses illustrated by FIGS. 1-6refer to examples of different embodiments that include variouscomponents and steps, which can be considered alternatives or which canbe used in conjunction with one another in the various embodiments. Thedescription of the illustrated methods, systems, and apparatuses shownin FIGS. 1-6 is provided for purposes of illustration and should not beconsidered to limit the scope of the different embodiments.

With reference to the figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagramillustrating a system 100 for implementing content navigation orselection using touch-based input, in accordance with variousembodiments.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 1, system 100 might comprise acomputing system 105 a and a data store or database 110 a that is localto the computing system 105 a. In some cases, the database 110 a mightbe external, yet communicatively coupled, to the computing system 105 a.In other cases, the database 110 a might be integrated within thecomputing system 105 a. System 100, according to some embodiments, mightfurther comprise one or more main display devices 115 (collectively,“main display devices 115” or the like), which might each include adisplay screen 115 a, and one or more user devices 120 (collectively,“user devices 120” or the like), which might each include a touchscreendisplay or touchscreen display device 120 a, and/or the like. In somecases, system 100 might further, or optionally, comprise one or moreaudio playback devices 125 a-125 n (collectively, “audio playbackdevices 125” or “speakers 125” or the like), and/or the like. Each ofthe one or more main display devices 115 and/or the one or more userdevices 120 might communicatively couple to the computing system 105 a,and/or to each other, either via wireless connection and/or via wiredconnection. The one or more user devices 120 might each receive userinput from a user (in various embodiments, receiving touch input fromthe user via the touchscreen display 120 a), and might each relay theuser input to the computing system 105 a, according to some embodiments.In some cases, the user devices 120 might include, without limitation,at least one of a dedicated remote control device (with touchscreendisplay) that is associated with the computing system 105 a, a universalremote control device (with touchscreen display) that has been paired,synced, or synchronized with the computing system 105 a, a tabletcomputer that has been paired, synced, or synchronized with thecomputing system 105 a, a smart phone that has been paired, synced, orsynchronized with the computing system 105 a, or other portable device(with touchscreen display) that has been paired, synced, or synchronizedwith the computing system 105 a, and/or the like. In some cases, thecomputing system 105 a, the database 110 a, the one or more main displaydevices 115 (including the display screen(s) 115 a and/or the audioplayback device(s) 125, etc.), and the user device(s) 120 may bedisposed within a customer premises 130, which might be one of a singlefamily house, a multi-dwelling unit (“MDU”) within a multi-dwellingcomplex (including, but not limited to, an apartment building, anapartment complex, a condominium complex, a townhouse complex, amixed-use building, etc.), a motel, an inn, a hotel, an office buildingor complex, a commercial building or complex, an industrial building orcomplex, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the computing system 105 a might comprise one of aprocessor on the main display device running a software application(“app”), a processor on the user device running an app, a media player,and/or the like. In some cases, the media device might include, but isnot limited to, one of a set-top box (“STB”), a small streaming device(e.g., a “streaming stick,” or the like), a media player, a gamingconsole, a server computer, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer,and/or the like. The media player might include, without limitation, oneof a digital versatile disc or digital video disc (“DVD”) player, aBlu-ray disc (“BD”) player, a player suitable for other forms of contentstorage media, a digital video recording (“DVR”) device, a streamingvideo player, a streaming music player, or a streaming game player,and/or the like, while the one or more main display devices 115 mightinclude, but are not limited to, at least one of one or more monitors(e.g., computer monitor or laptop monitor, or the like), one or moretelevision sets (e.g., smart television sets or other television sets,or the like), one or more projection systems, and/or the like. In somecases, the user device 120 might include, without limitation, one of alaptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, apersonal digital assistant, a remote control device, or a portablegaming device, and/or the like.

System 100 might further comprise one or more media content sources orservers 135 and corresponding databases 140 that might communicativelycouple to the computing system 105 a via one or more networks 145 (andin some cases, via one or more telecommunications relay systems 150,which might include, without limitation, one or more wireless networkinterfaces (e.g., wireless modems, wireless access points, and thelike), one or more towers, one or more satellites, and/or the like). Thelightning bolt symbols are used to denote wireless communicationsbetween the one or more telecommunications relay systems 150 and thecomputing system 105 a, between the one or more telecommunications relaysystems 150 and each of at least one of the user devices 120, betweenthe computing system 105 a and each of at least one of the main displaydevices 115, between the computing system 105 a and each of at least oneof the user devices 120, between the main display device 115 and theuser devices 120, between the computing system 105 a and each of the oneor more audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, between the main displaydevice 115 and each of at least one of the one or more audio playbackdevices 125 a-125 n, between the user devices 120 and each of at leastone of the one or more audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, and/or thelike. According to some embodiments, alternative or additional to thecomputing system 105 a and corresponding database 110 a being disposedwithin customer premises 130, system 100 might comprise remote computingsystem 105 b and corresponding database(s) 110 b that communicativelycouple with the one or more main display devices 115 and/or with the oneor more user devices 120 in the customer premises via the one or morenetworks 145 (and in some cases, via the one or more telecommunicationsrelay systems 150). According to some embodiments, remote computingsystem 105 b might comprise at least one of a server computer over anetwork, a cloud-based computing system over a network, and/or the like.

In operation, computing system 105 a or 105 b (and/or main displaydevice 115) might display a first video content on at least a portion ofa display screen 115 a of the main display device 115. The computingsystem 105 a or 105 b (and/or the user device 120) might display thefirst video content on at least a portion of a touchscreen display 120 aof the user device 120, the first video content being displayed on theat least a portion of the touchscreen display 120 a of the user device120 mirroring (in some cases, in real time (or near real time)) thefirst video content being displayed on the at least a portion of thedisplay screen 115 a of the main display device 115. In some cases, theresolution of the first video content that is displayed on the at leasta portion of the touchscreen display 120 a might be different from theresolution of the first video content that is displayed on the at leasta portion of the display screen 115 a. The computing system 105 a or 105b (and/or the user device 120) might receive user input via thetouchscreen display 120 a of the user device 120, the user input, insome cases, comprising a first swipe in a first direction relative to areference point on the touchscreen display 120 a of the user device 120.In response to receiving the user input, the computing system 105 a or105 b (and/or the user device 120) might shift display of the firstvideo content along the first direction on the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display 120 a while displaying and shifting display of, withthe computing system, a second video content along the first directionon the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 120 a such that thefirst video content and the second video content are adjacent to eachother while display of the first video content and the second videocontent are being shifted. The computing system 105 a or 105 b (and/ormain display device 115) might mirror the display and the shifting ofthe display of the first video content and the second video content onthe at least a portion of the display screen of the main display device(in some cases, in real time (or near real time)). In other words, theuser's channel changes or content selection (via user interaction withthe touchscreen display) would be reflected instantly and synchronouslyon the main display device.

In some embodiments, the shifting of the display of each of the firstvideo content or the second video content might comprise one of ascrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flipping effect, a transitioningeffect, or a dragging effect, and/or the like. Alternatively, oradditionally, the shifting of the display of each of the first videocontent or the second video content might comprise dynamic cropping ofeach of the first video content or the second video content such thatthe first video content and the second video content maintain theirdisplay resolution and size while both are being partially displayedduring shifting. In some cases, the first video content might be videocontent that is broadcast on a first broadcast channel, while the secondvideo content might be video content that is broadcast on a secondbroadcast channel. In some instances, the first video content and thesecond video content might be video content among a plurality of videocontent available for browsing or viewing in one of a video on demand(“VoD”) platform, a video streaming platform, or a digital videorecording (“DVR”) platform, and/or the like.

Merely by way of example, the swiping direction might be vertical (asshown and described below with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 3A),horizontal (as shown and described below with respect to the embodimentof FIG. 3B), or diagonal (as shown and described below with respect tothe embodiment of FIG. 3F), and/or the like. The first and second videocontent can be part of a plurality of video content, which in some casesmight be arranged in a grid pattern (as shown and described below withrespect to the embodiment of FIG. 3D-3F), might be grouped by genre orcategory (as shown and described below with respect to the embodiment ofFIG. 3C), might be episodes among a plurality of episodes in a series(or a season within a series) (as described below with respect to theembodiment of FIG. 3G), and/or the like. Additional user input mightinclude zoom functionality (as shown and described below with respect tothe embodiment of FIG. 3E, and as described below with respect to FIG.3G). Hand gestures that are typically used to manipulate graphical userinterfaces—including, but not limited to, “zoom and pinch” fingergestures, or the like—can be used to zoom in and out of a content gridpattern, or the like. Other user input might include fast swipefunctionality, which allows for continuous and rapid shifting ofmultiple video content along a swipe direction (as described in detailbelow with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4). In some cases, with the fast swipefunctionality, the continuous and rapid shifting of the multiple videocontent might incorporate a virtual “frictional” component that slowsthe continuous shifting over time (not unlike a roulette wheel or thelike). Audible and/or visual effects might be added to support thenotion of rapid and continuous shifting of multiple video contentsources, including, without limitation, sound effects indicative ofrapid video shifting, the slowing down of the continuous shifting overtime due to a virtual “frictional” component, and/or the like.Alternatively, or additionally, for the fast swipe functionality, a usermight stop the continuous and rapid shifting via user input including atap and hold input or the like that causes the shifting to stop with thevideo content under the user's finger being stopped at its positionwithin the at least one of the touchscreen display of the user device orof the display screen of the main display device.

In some embodiments, audio presentation during shifting or during gridview might include presentation, through one or more audio playbackdevices or speakers communicatively coupled to one of the computingsystem, the main display device, or the user device, of one of audiocontent corresponding to a user-selected video content among a pluralityof video content, audio content corresponding to a video content amongtwo or more video content that fills a majority of the display area ofthe touchscreen display of the user device or of the display screen ofthe main display device, audio content corresponding to a video contentamong two or more video content that covers a center position of thedisplay area of the touchscreen display of the user device or of thedisplay screen of the main display device, and/or the like.

According to some embodiments, the computing system (and/or at least oneof the user device or the main display device) might display contentinformation associated with one or more of the video content oncorresponding at least one of the touchscreen display of the user deviceor of the display screen of the main display device. The contentinformation might include, but is not limited to, one or more of channelor stream information; title or name of video content; brief descriptionof video content; information regarding actors, directors, productioncrew, studio, or persons of interest associated with the video content;length of video content; remaining length of video content playback;trailers; related content (e.g., prequels, sequels, other episodes inearlier seasons, other episodes in current season, other episodes inlater seasons, etc.); filming locations; still pictures associated withthe video content; trivia; and/or the like. In some embodiments, thecontent information might be either displayed overlaid over thecorresponding video content or displayed in a separate portion of the atleast one of the touchscreen display of the user device or of thedisplay screen of the main display device on which neither the videocontent nor any other video content are being displayed.

Generally, the user is able to select channels (i.e., live TV) andbrowse of content (such as content stored in VoD and/or DVR systems) bysimply swiping a finger up and down (i.e., vertical), or left and right(i.e., horizontally), or diagonally on a touchscreen to select the nextchannel or content item.

For live programming, real-time live video are displayed (andpotentially audio are presented) on the user's handheld device. Userscan select the next channel or content item simply by swiping theirfinger up or down on the touchscreen (as shown and described below withrespect to FIG. 3A). Alternative implementations may include the abilityto swipe left and right (as shown and described below with respect toFIG. 3B). Alternatively, or additionally, the user might select the nextchannel or content item by swiping diagonally (as shown and describedbelow with respect to FIG. 3F). The direction of swiping for channel andcontent selection could be configured by the user, configured by theoperator offering the video service, or configured by the device vendor.

Content showing on the main display device (e.g., TV or the like) issynchronized with the content showing on the input device (i.e., userdevice or the like), including the partial display of a channel orcontent item as the user is scrolling or shifting from one channel orcontent item to the next.

There are multiple ways to handle meta data and content information,including, without limitation, showing meta data and/or contentinformation on the touchscreen device, the TV or both; showing meta dataand/or content information overlaid on real-time video (i.e., live TV)or on stored content title information (e.g., VoD, DVR, etc.); orshowing meta data and/or content information separately in a dedicatedscreen area outside the live TV video or stored content titleinformation. Meta data displays can be enabled/disabled by means of adedicated touch gesture, including, but not limited to, double-tappingthe video content representation, specific finger swipes, and/or thelike.

The method of channel and content selection offers a convenient and verynatural way for users to change channels and browse content on a VoD orDVR system. The touchscreen device can be provided by the user or thenetwork operator. The touchscreen device communicates with a Set Top Box(STB) or directly with an app running on the TV, or the like. For theusers, a novel, very natural and intuitive way is provided for selectinglive TV channels or content items in a VoD or DVR system. This methoddoes not require lengthy cursor navigation or the like. For the serviceprovider, providing enhanced navigation features such as describedherein is a way to distinguish such video services from those offered bycompetitors. For vendors, such functionality provides vendors with theability to include advanced navigation capabilities while allows suchvendors to distinguish themselves from other vendors.

These and other functions of the system 100 (and its components) aredescribed in greater detail below with respect to FIGS. 2-4.

FIGS. 2A and 2B (collectively, “FIG. 2”) are schematic diagramsillustrating various embodiments 200 and 200′ of a system that may beused for implementing content navigation or selection using touch-basedinput.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 2A, according to someembodiments, system 200 might comprise a computing system 205 (whichmight correspond to computing system 105 a or 105 b of system 100 ofFIG. 1, or the like). Computing system 205, in some cases, mightcomprise one or more processors 210, one or more data stores or datastorage devices 215, and one or more communications transceivers 220,and/or the like. System 200 might further comprise one or more maindisplay devices 225 (which might correspond to the one or more maindisplay devices 115 of system 100 of FIG. 1, or the like), each of whichmight include, without limitation, one or more processors 230, one ormore data stores 235, one or more communications transceivers 240, oneor more display screens 245, and (optionally) one or more (built-in)speakers 250, and/or the like. System 200 might further comprise one ormore user devices 255 (which might correspond to the one or more userdevices 120 of system 100 of FIG. 1, or the like), each of which mightinclude, but are not limited to, one or more processors 260, one or moredata stores 265, one or more communications transceivers 270, one ormore display screens 275, and (optionally) one or more (built-in)speakers 280, and/or the like. In some cases, system 200 might furthercomprise one or more external speakers 285 (which might communicativelycouple either wirelessly or in a wired manner with at least one of themain display devices 225 (in some instances, via communicationstransceivers 240)) and one or more external speakers 290 (which mightcommunicatively couple either wirelessly or in a wired manner with atleast one of the user devices 255 (in some instances, via communicationstransceivers 270)), and/or the like. The computing system 205 mightcommunicatively couple (via wireless or wired connection) with each ofthe main display devices 225 (in some cases, via communicationstransceivers 240) and with each of the user devices 255 (in some cases,via communications transceivers 270).

The computing system 205, the one or more main display devices 225, theone or more user devices 255, and the one or more (internal) speakers250 or 280 and the one or more (external) speakers 285 or 290 of system200 in FIG. 2A are otherwise similar, if not identical, to the computingsystem 105 a or 105 b, the one or more main display devices 115, the oneor more user devices 120, and the one or more audio playback devices 125a-125 n, respectively, of system 100 in FIG. 1, and the descriptions ofthese components of system 100 are applicable to the correspondingcomponents of system 200, respectively.

Turning to the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 2B, in some embodiments,system 200′ might be similar to system 200 of FIG. 2A, except thatsystem 200′ might function without the use of a computing system 205 toperform processing functions and to communicate with each of the maindisplay device(s) 225 and the user device(s) 255. Rather, system 200′might comprise the one or more main display devices 225 (which mightcorrespond to the one or more main display devices 115 of system 100 ofFIG. 1, or the like), each of which might include, without limitation,one or more processors 230, one or more data stores 235, one or morecommunications transceivers 240, one or more display screens 245, and(optionally) one or more (built-in) speakers 250, and/or the like.System 200′ might further comprise the one or more user devices 255(which might correspond to the one or more user devices 120 of system100 of FIG. 1, or the like), each of which might include, but are notlimited to, one or more processors 260, one or more data stores 265, oneor more communications transceivers 270, one or more display screens275, and (optionally) one or more (built-in) speakers 280, and/or thelike. In some cases, system 200 might further comprise the one or moreexternal speakers 285 (which might communicatively couple eitherwirelessly or in a wired manner with at least one of the main displaydevices 225 (in some instances, via communications transceivers 240))and the one or more external speakers 290 (which might communicativelycouple either wirelessly or in a wired manner with at least one of theuser devices 255 (in some instances, via communications transceivers270)), and/or the like. At least one main display device 225 mightcommunicatively couple (either via wireless or wired connection) with atleast one user device 255 (in some cases, via communicationstransceivers 240 and 270).

The one or more main display devices 225, the one or more user devices255, and the one or more (internal) speakers 250 or 280 and the one ormore (external) speakers 285 or 290 of system 200′ in FIG. 2B areotherwise similar, if not identical, to the one or more main displaydevices 225, the one or more user devices 255, and the one or more(internal) speakers 250 or 280 and the one or more (external) speakers285 or 290, respectively, of system 200 in FIG. 2A, and the descriptionsof these components of system 200 are applicable to the correspondingcomponents of system 200′, respectively.

FIGS. 3A-3G (collectively, “FIG. 3”) are flow diagrams illustratingvarious embodiments 300, 300′, 300″, 300″, 300″″, and 300″″ of userinterfaces and display screens during implementation of contentnavigation or selection using touch-based input. Embodiment 300 of FIG.3A depicts vertical shifting of video content, and embodiment 300′ ofFIG. 3B depicts horizontal shifting of video content, while embodiment300″ of FIG. 3E depicts zooming of a plurality of video content that arearranged in a grid pattern, and embodiment 300″″ of FIG. 3F depictsdiagonal shifting of a plurality of video content that are arranged in agrid pattern (at its current level of zoom), while embodiment 300″″depicts pop-up window in response to selection of one of the videocontent in the plurality of video content that are arranged in a gridpattern. FIGS. 3C-3G are directed to embodiments that display aplurality of video content in a grid pattern.

In FIG. 3, main display device 305 (which might correspond to maindisplay devices 115 and 225 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like) mightcomprise display screen 305 a (which might correspond to display screens115 a and 245 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like). Likewise, in FIG. 3, userdevice 310 (which might correspond to user devices 120 and 255 of FIGS.1 and 2, or the like) might comprise touchscreen display or touchscreendisplay device 310 a (which might correspond to display screens 120 aand 275 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like).

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a first video content 315 might bedisplayed on the display screen 305 a (or at least a portion of thedisplay screen 305 a) of the main display device 305 (which, in thisparticular embodiment, is a television, but is not limited to such). Thedisplay of the first video content 315 on the at least a portion of thedisplay screen 305 a might be mirrored on at least a portion of thetouchscreen display 310 a (in some cases, in real time (or near realtime)). To change the channel or to change to a different video content(such as a second video content 320), the user might interact with thetouchscreen display 310 a of the user device 310 (which, in thisparticular embodiment, is a tablet computer, but is not limited tosuch).

In the embodiment 300 of FIG. 3A, the user might swipe along a verticaldirection relative to a reference point on the touchscreen display 310 aor relative to a viewing orientation (in this case, swiping upward toreplace the first video content 315 with the second video content 320,or swiping downward to replace the second video content 320 with thefirst video content 315), as shown by the double arrow 325 (which hereinmight also refer to the direction along which the user swipes). Inresponse to the user swiping along the vertical direction (or inresponse to the user device (and/or a computing system) receiving thetouch-based user input (i.e., the swipe) via the touchscreen display 310a), the user device 310 and/or the computing system (which mightcorrespond to the computing system 105 a, 105 b, or 205 of FIGS. 1 and2A, or the like) might shift display of the first video content 315along the vertical direction on the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display 310 a while displaying and shifting display of thesecond video content 320 along the vertical direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display 310 a such that the first videocontent 315 and the second video content are adjacent to, orside-by-side with, each other while display of the first video content315 and the second video content are being shifted. The shifting of thedisplay of each of the first video content or the second video content,according to some embodiments, might include, without limitation, one ofa scrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flipping effect, a transitioningeffect, or a dragging effect, and/or the like. Alternatively, oradditionally, the shifting of the display of each of the first videocontent or the second video content might comprise dynamic cropping ofeach of the first video content or the second video content such thatthe first video content and the second video content maintain theirdisplay resolution and size while both are being partially displayedduring shifting.

While the displayed video content are being shifted, the user device 310and the main display device 305 might remain in (wireless or wired)communication with each other, and the main display device 305 and/orthe computing system might mirror (in some cases, in real time (or nearreal time)) the display and the shifting of the display of the firstvideo content 315 and the second video content 320 on the at least aportion of the display screen 305 a of the main display device 305, withthe first video content 315 and the second video content 320 shiftingalong the vertical direction, as shown by the double arrow 330.Throughout the shifting, rather than still (or static) images or pausedvideo playback, each of the first video content 315 and the second videocontent 320 would continue playback or continue being presented to theuser.

In terms of the audio presentation, the audio content corresponding tothe one of the first video content 315 or the second video content 320that fills the majority (in this case more than 50%) of the at least aportion of the touchscreen display 310 a or the at least a portion ofthe display screen 305 a would be presented or would continue to bepresented through audio playback devices (which might correspond toaudio playback devices or speakers 125 a-125 n, 250, 280, 285, and/or290 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like). For example, prior to (and after)the user swiping along the vertical direction 325, the video content(i.e., one of the first video content 315 or the second video content320) being displayed would fill 100% of each of the at least a portionof touchscreen display 310 a and the at least a portion of the displayscreen 305 a, and thus the audio content corresponding to such videocontent would be presented through the audio playback device(s). Duringshifting from the first video content 315 to the second video content320, while the first video content 315 fills at least 50% of the atleast a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a or the at least aportion of the display screen 305 a, the audio content corresponding tothe first video content 315 would continue to be presented. As thesecond video content 320 begins to fill more than 50%, the audio contentcorresponding to the second video content 320 would replace the audiocontent corresponding to the first video content 315 (referred to hereinas the “audio shift”) as the audio content being presented through theaudio playback device(s).

Alternatively, the audio content corresponding to the one of the firstvideo content 315 or the second video content 320 that covers a centerposition of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a orthe at least a portion of the display screen 305 a would be presented orwould continue to be presented through audio playback devices (whichmight correspond to audio playback devices or speakers 125 a-125 n, 250,280, 285, and/or 290 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like). For example, priorto (and after) the user swiping along the vertical direction 325, thevideo content (i.e., one of the first video content 315 or the secondvideo content 320) being displayed would cover a center position of eachof the at least a portion of touchscreen display 310 a and the at leasta portion of the display screen 305 a, and thus the audio contentcorresponding to such video content would be presented through the audioplayback device(s). During shifting from the first video content 315 tothe second video content 320, while the first video content 315 coversthe center position of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display310 a or the at least a portion of the display screen 305 a, the audiocontent corresponding to the first video content 315 would continue tobe presented. As the second video content 320 begins to replace thefirst video content in terms of covering the center position of the atleast a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a or the at least aportion of the display screen 305 a, the audio content corresponding tothe second video content 320 would replace the audio contentcorresponding to the first video content 315 (also referred to herein asthe “audio shift”) as the audio content being presented through theaudio playback device(s).

In some embodiments, the audio shift (or the transition of the audioplayback), whether based on the amount of whichever video content fillsthe majority of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310 aor of the display screen 305 a or based on which video content covers acenter position of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310a or of the display screen 305 a, may be as described in detail in the'031900US application, which has already been incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes. Other audio shifting mayalternatively be implemented as necessary or as desired.

According to some embodiments, such as shown in the non-limiting exampleof embodiment 300 of FIG. 3A, the touchscreen display 310 a mightcomprise a first sub-section 335 containing content information(including, but not limited to, one or more of channel or streaminformation, title or name of video content, brief description of videocontent, information regarding actors, directors, production crew,studio, or persons of interest associated with the video content, lengthof video content, remaining length of video content playback, trailers,related content (e.g., prequels, sequels, other episodes in earlierseasons, other episodes in current season, other episodes in laterseasons, etc.), filming locations, still pictures associated with thevideo content, trivia, and/or the like) associated with the first videocontent 315 and/or a second sub-section 340 containing contentinformation (including, but not limited to, one or more of channel orstream information, title or name of video content, brief description ofvideo content, information regarding actors, directors, production crew,studio, or persons of interest associated with the video content, lengthof video content, remaining length of video content playback, trailers,related content (e.g., prequels, sequels, other episodes in earlierseasons, other episodes in current season, other episodes in laterseasons, etc.), filming locations, still pictures associated with thevideo content, trivia, and/or the like) associated with the second videocontent 320. Although each of the first sub-section 335 and the secondsub-section 340 are depicted in FIG. 3A as being displayed in separateportions of the touchscreen display 310 a on which neither the firstvideo content 315 nor the second video content 320 are being displayed,the various embodiments are not so limited, and at least one of thefirst sub-section 335 and the second sub-section 340 might be displayedas being overlaid over corresponding at least one of the first videocontent 315 or the second video content 320. Further, although each ofthe first sub-section 335 and the second sub-section 340 are depicted inFIG. 3A as being displayed along the top or bottom edges of thetouchscreen display 310 a (on which neither the first video content 315nor the second video content 320 are being displayed), the variousembodiments are not so limited, and at least one of the firstsub-section 335 and the second sub-section 340 might be displayed alongthe side edge(s) of the touchscreen display 310 a.

In the embodiment 300′ of FIG. 3B, the user might swipe along ahorizontal direction relative to a reference point on the touchscreendisplay 310 a or relative to a viewing orientation (in this case,swiping to the left to replace the first video content 315 with thesecond video content 320, or swiping to the right to replace the secondvideo content 320 with the first video content 315), as shown by thedouble arrow 345 (which herein might also refer to the direction alongwhich the user swipes). In response to the user swiping along thehorizontal direction (or in response to the user device (and/or acomputing system) receiving the touch-based user input (i.e., the swipe)via the touchscreen display 310 a), the user device 310 and/or thecomputing system (which might correspond to the computing system 105 a,105 b, or 205 of FIGS. 1 and 2A, or the like) might shift display of thefirst video content 315 along the horizontal direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display 310 a while displaying and shiftingdisplay of the second video content 320 along the horizontal directionon the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a such that thefirst video content 315 and the second video content are adjacent to, orside-by-side with, each other while display of the first video content315 and the second video content are being shifted. The shifting of thedisplay of each of the first video content or the second video content,according to some embodiments, might include, without limitation, one ofa scrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flipping effect, a transitioningeffect, or a dragging effect, and/or the like. Alternatively, oradditionally, the shifting of the display of each of the first videocontent or the second video content might comprise dynamic cropping ofeach of the first video content or the second video content such thatthe first video content and the second video content maintain theirdisplay resolution and size while both are being partially displayedduring shifting.

While the displayed video content are being shifted, the user device 310and the main display device 305 might remain in (wireless or wired)communication with each other, and the main display device 305 and/orthe computing system might mirror (in some cases, in real time (or nearreal time)) the display and the shifting of the display of the firstvideo content 315 and the second video content 320 on the at least aportion of the display screen 305 a of the main display device 305, withthe first video content 315 and the second video content 320 shiftingalong the horizontal direction, as shown by the double arrow 350.Throughout the shifting, as with the embodiment 300 of FIG. 3A, ratherthan still (or static) images or paused video playback, each of thefirst video content 315 and the second video content 320 would continueplayback or continue being presented to the user.

In terms of the audio presentation, as with the embodiment 300 of FIG.3A, the audio content corresponding to the one of the first videocontent 315 or the second video content 320 that fills the majority (inthis case more than 50%) of the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay 310 a or the at least a portion of the display screen 305 awould be presented or would continue to be presented through audioplayback devices (which might correspond to audio playback devices orspeakers 125 a-125 n, 250, 280, 285, and/or 290 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or thelike). For example, prior to (and after) the user swiping along thehorizontal direction 345, the video content (i.e., one of the firstvideo content 315 or the second video content 320) being displayed wouldfill 100% of each of the at least a portion of touchscreen display 310 aand the at least a portion of the display screen 305 a, and thus theaudio content corresponding to such video content would be presentedthrough the audio playback device(s). During shifting from the firstvideo content 315 to the second video content 320, while the first videocontent 315 fills at least 50% of the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display 310 a or the at least a portion of the displayscreen 305 a, the audio content corresponding to the first video content315 would continue to be presented. As the second video content 320begins to fill more than 50%, the audio content corresponding to thesecond video content 320 would replace the audio content correspondingto the first video content 315 (referred to herein as the “audio shift”)as the audio content being presented through the audio playbackdevice(s).

Alternatively, the audio content corresponding to the one of the firstvideo content 315 or the second video content 320 that covers a centerposition of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a orthe at least a portion of the display screen 305 a would be presented orwould continue to be presented through audio playback devices (whichmight correspond to audio playback devices or speakers 125 a-125 n, 250,280, 285, and/or 290 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like). For example, priorto (and after) the user swiping along the horizontal direction 345, thevideo content (i.e., one of the first video content 315 or the secondvideo content 320) being displayed would cover a center position of eachof the at least a portion of touchscreen display 310 a and the at leasta portion of the display screen 305 a, and thus the audio contentcorresponding to such video content would be presented through the audioplayback device(s). During shifting from the first video content 315 tothe second video content 320, while the first video content 315 coversthe center position of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display310 a or the at least a portion of the display screen 305 a, the audiocontent corresponding to the first video content 315 would continue tobe presented. As the second video content 320 begins to replace thefirst video content in terms of covering the center position of the atleast a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a or the at least aportion of the display screen 305 a, the audio content corresponding tothe second video content 320 would replace the audio contentcorresponding to the first video content 315 (also referred to herein asthe “audio shift”) as the audio content being presented through theaudio playback device(s).

In some embodiments, the audio shift (or the transition of the audioplayback), whether based on the amount of whichever video content fillsthe majority of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310 aor of the display screen 305 a or based on which video content covers acenter position of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310a or of the display screen 305 a, may be as described in detail in the'031900US application, which has already been incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes. Other audio shifting mayalternatively be implemented as necessary or as desired.

According to some embodiments, such as shown in the non-limiting exampleof embodiment 300′ of FIG. 3B, the touchscreen display 310 a mightcomprise a first sub-section 335 containing content information(including, but not limited to, one or more of channel or streaminformation, title or name of video content, brief description of videocontent, information regarding actors, directors, production crew,studio, or persons of interest associated with the video content, lengthof video content, remaining length of video content playback, trailers,related content (e.g., prequels, sequels, other episodes in earlierseasons, other episodes in current season, other episodes in laterseasons, etc.), filming locations, still pictures associated with thevideo content, trivia, and/or the like) associated with the first videocontent 315 and/or a second sub-section 340 containing contentinformation (including, but not limited to, one or more of channel orstream information, title or name of video content, brief description ofvideo content, information regarding actors, directors, production crew,studio, or persons of interest associated with the video content, lengthof video content, remaining length of video content playback, trailers,related content (e.g., prequels, sequels, other episodes in earlierseasons, other episodes in current season, other episodes in laterseasons, etc.), filming locations, still pictures associated with thevideo content, trivia, and/or the like) associated with the second videocontent 320. Although each of the first sub-section 335 and the secondsub-section 340 are depicted in FIG. 3B as being displayed in separateportions of the touchscreen display 310 a on which neither the firstvideo content 315 nor the second video content 320 are being displayed,the various embodiments are not so limited, and at least one of thefirst sub-section 335 and the second sub-section 340 might be displayedas being overlaid over corresponding at least one of the first videocontent 315 or the second video content 320. Further, although each ofthe first sub-section 335 and the second sub-section 340 are depicted inFIG. 3A as being displayed along the bottom edge of the touchscreendisplay 310 a (on which neither the first video content 315 nor thesecond video content 320 are being displayed), the various embodimentsare not so limited, and at least one of the first sub-section 335 andthe second sub-section 340 might be displayed along the top edge oralong the side edge(s) of the touchscreen display 310 a.

We now turn to FIG. 3C, which depicts a plurality of video content 355a-355 ap (collectively, “video content 355” or “plurality of videocontent 355” or the like) that are arranged or grouped into genre orcategories, including, but not limited to, action, drama, romance,science fiction (or sci-fi), sports, western, and/or the like. Forinstance, video content 355 a-355 g fall under the action category,video content 355 h-355 n fall under the drama category, video content355 o-355 u fall under the romance category, video content 355 v-355 abfall under the sci-fi category, video content 355 ac-355 ai fall underthe sports category, video content 355 aj-355 ap fall under the westerncategory, and so on. The plurality of video content 355 a-355 ap may bedisplayed in a grid pattern while maintaining the category groupings,e.g., as shown in embodiment 300″ of FIG. 3D.

In the non-limiting embodiment 300″ of FIG. 3D, which depicts theplurality of video content 355 being displayed in the grid pattern inthe at least a portion of the touchscreen 310 a of user device 310, thecolumns of the grid might represent the categories or genre of videocontent while the rows of the grid might contain video content that fallunder each category. For instance, as shown in FIG. 3D, video content355 a-355 g falling under the action category might be displayed withina first column, video content 355 h-355 n falling under the dramacategory might be displayed within a second column, video content 355o-355 u falling under the romance category might be displayed within athird column, video content 355 v-355 ab falling under the sci-ficategory might be displayed within a fourth column, video content 355ac-355 ai falling under the sports category might be displayed within afifth column, video content 355 aj-355 ap falling under the westerncategory might be displayed within a sixth column, and so on.Alternatively, although not shown, the rows of the grid might representthe categories or genre of video content while the columns of the gridmight contain video content that fall under each category. In such acase, video content 355 a-355 g falling under the action category mightbe displayed within a first row, video content 355 h-355 n falling underthe drama category might be displayed within a second row, video content355 o-355 u falling under the romance category might be displayed withina third row, video content 355 v-355 ab falling under the sci-ficategory might be displayed within a fourth row, video content 355ac-355 ai falling under the sports category might be displayed within afifth row, video content 355 aj-355 ap falling under the westerncategory might be displayed within a sixth row, and so on. Throughoutthe display of the grid of video content 355, rather than still (orstatic) images or paused video playback, each of the plurality of videocontent 355 would continue playback or continue being presented to theuser.

With reference to embodiment 300″ of FIG. 3E, the user can zoom in onthe grid of video content of embodiment 300″ using, e.g., multi-fingertouch input (including, without limitation, a two-finger pinch-out inputon the touchscreen display 310 a, as shown by the arrows 360). Inresponse to the zoom-in or pinch-out input, the user device 310 and/orthe computing system might expand the size of the video content in thegrid (while maintaining the relative orientation of each video contentwith respect to adjust content), while cropping the portions of thevideo content that would exceed the boundaries of the touchscreendisplay 310 a (or the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310a). Such dynamic cropping is similar to the dynamic cropping asdescribed above with respect to FIGS. 3A and 3B. In some embodiments,the position in the middle of the two fingers might mark the center ofthe grid after zooming in. In other words, if the center between theuser's fingers are near the bottom-left corner of the at least a portionof the touchscreen display 310 a (for example) when the user uses thetwo-finger pinch-out input, the grid of video content would expand asdescribed above, with the video content or group of video content thatwere at the center between the user's fingers being centered on the atleast a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a during or afterzoom-in. If necessary, vertical or horizontal shifting as describedabove with respect to embodiments 300 and 300′ of FIGS. 3A and 3B may beimplemented during the zooming process.

As described above, while the displayed video content are being zoomedin and perhaps also shifted, the user device 310 and the main displaydevice 305 might remain in (wireless or wired) communication with eachother, and the main display device 305 and/or the computing system mightmirror (in some cases, in real time (or near real time)) the zooming in(and in some cases, display and the shifting of the display as well) ofthe plurality of video content 355 on the at least a portion of thedisplay screen 305 a of the main display device 305. Throughout thezooming in (and perhaps also shifting), rather than still (or static)images or paused video playback, each of the plurality of video content355 would continue playback or continue being presented to the user. Insome embodiments, a menu section 365 might be displayed in at least oneof a portion of touchscreen display 310 a or a portion of the displayscreen 305 a. Merely by way of example, the menu section 365 mightprovide the user with options to return to a home screen (i.e., “Home”command), to display the user's compilation of videos or favorite videos(i.e., “My Videos” command), to display the user's compilation ofchannels or favorite channels (i.e., “My Channels” command), to searchfor video content (i.e., the “Search” command), to view or changeviewing or display settings or options (i.e., “Options” command), toview or change user preferences with regard to video content, display ofvideo content, display of content information, and/or settings, etc.(i.e., “Preferences” command), to sign out or log out of the videoplayback or streaming account (i.e., “Sign out” command), and/or thelike. Although shown on the right edge of the display screen 305 a, themenu section 365 may be displayed on any of the top edge, the left edge,or the bottom edge of the display screen 305 a, or on any edge of thetouchscreen display 310 a, as desired or as preferred by the user or thevideo content service provider.

In terms of the audio presentation, the user might select one of theplurality of video content 355. In such a case, the audio contentcorresponding to the selected video content 355 might be presented tothe user through the audio playback devices (which might correspond toaudio playback devices or speakers 125 a-125 n, 250, 280, 285, and/or290 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like). Alternatively, the audio contentcorresponding to the one of the plurality of video content 355 thatcovers a center position of the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay 310 a or the at least a portion of the display screen 305 awould be presented or would continue to be presented through audioplayback devices (which might correspond to audio playback devices orspeakers 125 a-125 n, 250, 280, 285, and/or 290 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or thelike). In some embodiments, the audio shift (or the transition of theaudio playback), whether based on change in the selected video contentor based on which video content covers a center position of the at leasta portion of the touchscreen display 310 a or of the display screen 305a, may be as described in detail in the '031900US application, which hasalready been incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for allpurposes. Other audio shifting may alternatively be implemented asnecessary or as desired.

Although not shown, in a similar manner as above with respect to thezoom-in function, the user can zoom out to depict a larger collection ofvideo content in a similar manner (e.g., using multi-finger touch input,including, but not limited to, a two-finger pinch or pinch-in input onthe touchscreen display 310 a, in directions opposite to the arrows360). Such zoom-out function would otherwise be similar to the zoom-infunction in terms of video display and audio presentation.

In the embodiment 300″″ of FIG. 3F, the user might swipe along adiagonal direction relative to a reference point on the touchscreendisplay 310 a or relative to a viewing orientation (in this case,swiping upward-right to shift display of the grid of video content 355up and to the right while simultaneously cropping the top-most andright-most video content as they move beyond the boundaries of thetouchscreen display 310 a and displaying the bottom-most and left-mostvideo content as they move within the boundaries of the touchscreendisplay 310 a at the current levels of zoom, or swiping downward-left toshift display of the grid of video content 355 down and to the leftwhile simultaneously cropping the bottom-most and left-most videocontent as they move beyond the boundaries of the touchscreen display310 a and displaying the top-most and right-most video content as theymove within the boundaries of the touchscreen display 310 a at thecurrent levels of zoom), as shown by the double arrow 370 (which hereinmight also refer to the direction along which the user swipes). Inresponse to the user swiping along the diagonal direction (or inresponse to the user device (and/or a computing system) receiving thetouch-based user input (i.e., the swipe) via the touchscreen display 310a), the user device 310 and/or the computing system (which mightcorrespond to the computing system 105 a, 105 b, or 205 of FIGS. 1 and2A, or the like) might shift display of the plurality of video content355 along the diagonal direction on the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display 310 a while cropping the video content as they movebeyond the boundaries of the touchscreen display 310 a and displayingthe video content as they move within the boundaries of the touchscreendisplay 310 a at the current levels of zoom. Such dynamic cropping issimilar to the dynamic cropping as described above with respect to FIGS.3A and 3B. The shifting of the display of the plurality of videocontent, according to some embodiments, might include, withoutlimitation, one of a scrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flippingeffect, a transitioning effect, or a dragging effect, and/or the like.

While the displayed video content are being shifted, the user device 310and the main display device 305 might remain in (wireless or wired)communication with each other, and the main display device 305 and/orthe computing system might mirror (in some cases, in real time (or nearreal time)) the display and the shifting of the display of the pluralityof video content 355 on the at least a portion of the display screen 305a of the main display device 305, with the plurality of video content355 shifting along the diagonal direction, as shown by the double arrow375. Throughout the shifting, rather than still (or static) images orpaused video playback, each of the plurality of video content 355 wouldcontinue playback or continue being presented to the user.

In a similar manner, the user might swipe in the other diagonaldirection (i.e., orthogonal to the diagonal direction 370). In such acase, the user might swipe upward-left to shift display of the grid ofvideo content 355 up and to the left while simultaneously cropping thetop-most and left-most video content as they move beyond the boundariesof the touchscreen display 310 a and displaying the bottom-most andright-most video content as they move within the boundaries of thetouchscreen display 310 a at the current levels of zoom, or mightswiping downward-right to shift display of the grid of video content 355down and to the right while simultaneously cropping the bottom-most andright-most video content as they move beyond the boundaries of thetouchscreen display 310 a and displaying the top-most and left-mostvideo content as they move within the boundaries of the touchscreendisplay 310 a at the current levels of zoom). The display and shiftingwould otherwise be similar to the display and shifting in response tothe user swiping in the diagonal direction 370.

In terms of the audio presentation, the user might select one of theplurality of video content 355. In such a case, the audio contentcorresponding to the selected video content 355 might be presented tothe user through the audio playback devices (which might correspond toaudio playback devices or speakers 125 a-125 n, 250, 280, 285, and/or290 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like). In some embodiments, no audio mightbe presented. Alternatively, the audio content corresponding to the oneof the plurality of video content 355 that covers a center position ofthe at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a or the at leasta portion of the display screen 305 a would be presented or wouldcontinue to be presented through audio playback devices (which mightcorrespond to audio playback devices or speakers 125 a-125 n, 250, 280,285, and/or 290 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like). In some embodiments, theaudio shift (or the transition of the audio playback), whether based onchange in the selected video content or based on which video contentcovers a center position of the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay 310 a or of the display screen 305 a, may be as described indetail in the '031900US application, which has already been incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Other audioshifting may alternatively be implemented as necessary or as desired.

With reference to non-limiting embodiment 300″″ of FIG. 3G, when a userselects on of the plurality of video content 355, a pop-up window 380might be displayed overlaid over the plurality of video content 355 inthe grid pattern (in its current level of zoom). The pop-up window 380might display the selected video content 355 (in this case, videocontent 355I), which might continue playing within the pop-up window380. Also displayed within the pop-up window 380 might be contentinformation associated with the selected video content 355, including,without limitation, one or more of title or name of the selected videocontent, brief description of the selected video content, the channel orstream information, information regarding actors, directors, productioncrew, studio, or persons of interest associated with the selected videocontent, length of the selected video content, remaining length of theselected video content playback, trailers, related content (e.g.,prequels, sequels, other episodes in earlier seasons, other episodes incurrent season, other episodes in later seasons, etc.), filminglocations, still pictures associated with the video content, trivia,and/or the like.

Control information 385 might additionally be displayed within thepop-up window 380 to provide the user with some guidance in terms of howto interact with the pop-up window. For example, the control information385 might include, but is not limited to, information or options forplaying the selected video content 355, information or options forviewing or selecting other episodes or seasons/series if the selectedvideo content is part of a series or the like, information or optionsfor returning to the grid view or a previous pop-up window view, and/orthe like. For example, the information or options for playing theselected video content 355 might include, without limitation, doubletapping the selected video content 355 within the pop-up window 380,double tapping anywhere in the pop-up window 380, double tappinganywhere in the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a,double tapping anywhere in the touchscreen display 310 a, single ordouble tapping a play icon(s) that is displayed in the pop-up window380, single or double tapping a play icon(s) that is displayed in the atleast a portion of the touchscreen display 310 a outside the pop-upwindow 380, and/or the like.

In some cases, the information or options for viewing or selecting otherepisodes or seasons/series if the selected video content is part of aseries or the like might include, but are not limited to, tapping a linkto “all episodes” or “more episodes,” swiping left or right, swiping upor down, swiping diagonally, zooming in or out of the portion of thepop-up window 380 displaying the selected video content, and/or thelike. In some embodiments, the display of the selected video content 380might be similar to the embodiments 300 and 300′, in that atransitioning between two chronologically adjacent episodes might beperformed and implemented in response to the user swiping along avertical direction or swiping along a horizontal direction, with theepisodes shifting in a similar manner as the shifting of video contentdescribed above with respect to FIGS. 3A and 3B. According to someembodiments, the episodes of the selected video content 355 might bearranged in a grid pattern, not unlike the embodiments 300″, 300″, and300″″ of FIGS. 3D-3F, with the episodes belonging to particular seasons(or series in UK television) being arranged or grouped in columns, sothat swiping horizontally would cause the shifting of episodes in oneseason to replace episodes in another season, and swiping verticallywould cause the shifting of episodes within a single season, whileswiping diagonally would cause the simultaneous shifting of seasons andepisodes, and zooming out would cause the grid of seasons and episodesof the selected video content to be displayed, while zooming in woulddisplay one of the episodes in the selected season (here, the positionof the user's fingers might determine which episode is selected, notunlike the centering of the zoomed grid as described above with respectto embodiment 300″ of FIG. 3E). Alternatively, the seasons or seriesmight be arranged or grouped in rows instead of columns, and mightotherwise function in a similar manner.

In some instances, the information or options for returning to the gridview or a previous pop-up window view might include, without limitation,tapping a “return” or “back” icon, tapping a “return” or “back” link,single tapping anywhere in the pop-up window 380, single tappinganywhere in the at least a portion of the touchscreen display 310 aoutside the pop-up window 380, and/or the like.

In terms of audio presentation, audio content associated with theepisode that is displayed in the pop-up window 380 might be presentedthrough the audio playback devices (which might correspond to audioplayback devices or speakers 125 a-125 n, 250, 280, 285, and/or 290 ofFIGS. 1 and 2, or the like). During shifting, the audio shifting asdescribed above with respect to embodiments 300, 300′, 300″, 300″, and300″″ might be implemented. In the case where the grid of episodes isdisplayed in the pop-up window 380, the audio content the selectedepisode or the episode at the center position of the display portion ofthe pop-up window 380 might be presented through the audio playbackdevices, not unlike the audio playback or audio shifting as describedabove with respect to embodiment 300″ of FIG. 3E or embodiment 300″″ ofFIG. 3F.

According to some embodiments, with respect to the swipe functionalityas described above with respect to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3F, the user mightbe provided with fast swipe functionality (also referred to as “rapidswipe,” “quick swipe,” or the like), which allows for continuous andrapid shifting of multiple video content along a swipe direction (i.e.,vertical as in embodiment 300 of FIG. 3A, horizontal as in embodiment300′ of FIG. 3B, diagonal as in embodiment 300″″ of FIG. 3F, or thelike). In some cases, with the fast swipe functionality, the continuousand rapid shifting of the multiple video content might incorporate avirtual “frictional” component that slows the continuous shifting overtime (not unlike a roulette wheel, a slot machine, or the like). Audibleand/or visual effects might be added to support the notion of rapid andcontinuous shifting of multiple video content sources, including,without limitation, sound effects indicative of rapid video shifting,the slowing down of the continuous shifting over time due to a virtual“frictional” component, and/or the like. Alternatively, or additionally,for the fast swipe functionality, a user might stop the continuous andrapid shifting via user input including a tap and hold input, or thelike, that causes the shifting to stop with the video content under theuser's finger being stopped at its position within the at least one ofthe touchscreen display of the user device or of the display screen ofthe main display device. In this way, a user can quickly browse throughthe plurality of video content or channels (in some cases, until theuser closes in on the video content or channel of interest, then theuser can slowly swipe to find and select the desired video content orchannel).

FIGS. 4A-4C (collectively, “FIG. 4”) are flow diagrams illustrating amethod 400 for implementing content navigation or selection usingtouch-based input, in accordance with various embodiments. Method 400 ofFIG. 4A continues onto FIG. 4B following the circular marker denoted,“A,” which continues onto FIG. 4C following the circular marker denoted,“B.”

While the techniques and procedures are depicted and/or described in acertain order for purposes of illustration, it should be appreciatedthat certain procedures may be reordered and/or omitted within the scopeof various embodiments. Moreover, while the method 400 illustrated byFIG. 4 can be implemented by or with (and, in some cases, are describedbelow with respect to) the systems 100, 200, and 200′ of FIGS. 1, 2A,and 2B, respectively (or components thereof), such methods may also beimplemented using any suitable hardware (or software) implementation.Similarly, while each of the systems 100, 200, and 200′ of FIGS. 1, 2A,and 2B, respectively (or components thereof), can operate according tothe method 400 illustrated by FIG. 4 (e.g., by executing instructionsembodied on a computer readable medium), the systems 100, 200, and 200′of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B can each also operate according to other modes ofoperation and/or perform other suitable procedures.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 4A, method 400, at block 405,displaying, with a computing system (which might correspond to computingsystems 105 a, 105 b, and 205 of FIGS. 1 and 2A, or the like), a firstvideo content on at least a portion of a display screen (which mightcorrespond to display screen 115 a, 245, and 305 a of FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B,3A, 3B, and 3D-3G, or the like) of a main display device (which mightcorrespond to main display devices 115, 225, and 305 of FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B,3A, 3B, and 3D-3G, or the like). At block 410, method 400 might comprisedisplaying, with the computing system, the first video content on atleast a portion of a touchscreen display (which might correspond totouchscreen display 120 a, 275, and 310 a of FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B,and 3D-3G, or the like) of a user device (which might correspond to userdevices 120, 255, and 310 of FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, and 3D-3G, or thelike), the first video content being displayed on the at least a portionof the touchscreen display of the user device mirroring the first videocontent being displayed on the at least a portion of the display screenof the main display device (in some cases, in real time (or near realtime)).

Method 400 might further comprise receiving, with the computing system,user input via the touchscreen display of the user device, the userinput comprising a first swipe in a first direction relative to areference point on the touchscreen display of the user device (block415) and, in response to receiving the user input, shifting, with thecomputing system, display of the first video content along the firstdirection on the at least a portion of the touchscreen display whiledisplaying and shifting display of, with the computing system, a secondvideo content along the first direction on the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display such that the first video content and the secondvideo content are adjacent to each other while display of the firstvideo content and the second video content are being shifted (block420). In some embodiments, the shifting of the display of each of thefirst video content or the second video content might comprise one of ascrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flipping effect, a transitioningeffect, or a dragging effect, and/or the like. Alternatively, oradditionally, the shifting of the display of each of the first videocontent or the second video content might comprise dynamic cropping ofeach of the first video content or the second video content such thatthe first video content and the second video content maintain theirdisplay resolution and size while both are being partially displayedduring shifting. Method 400 might further comprise, at block 425,mirroring, with the computing system, the display and the shifting ofthe display of the first video content and the second video content onthe at least a portion of the display screen of the main display device(in some cases, in real time (or near real time)).

At optional block 430, method 400 might comprise displaying, with thecomputing system, content information associated with each of at leastone of the first video content or the second video content on one orboth of the display screen of the main display device or the touchscreendisplay of the user device. The content information, in someembodiments, might include, but is not limited to, one or more ofchannel or stream information; title or name of video content; briefdescription of video content; information regarding actors, directors,production crew, studio, or persons of interest associated with thevideo content; length of video content; remaining length of videocontent playback; trailers; related content (e.g., prequels, sequels,other episodes in earlier seasons, other episodes in current season,other episodes in later seasons, etc.); filming locations; stillpictures associated with the video content; trivia; and/or the like. Insome cases, the content information might either displayed overlaid overcorresponding at least one of the first video content or the secondvideo content or displayed in a separate portion of the one or both ofthe display screen of the main display device or the touchscreen displayof the user device on which neither the first video content nor thesecond video content are being displayed. Method 400 might continue ontothe process at optional block 435 in FIG. 4B following the circularmarker denoted, “A.”

In some embodiments, the first video content and the second videocontent are video content among a plurality of video content that arearranged in a grid pattern with one video content being adjacent to fourvideo content (as shown, e.g., in the embodiments of FIGS. 3D-3G or thelike). With reference to FIG. 4B, method 400 might further comprisereceiving, with the computing system, a second user input via thetouchscreen display of the user device, the second user input comprisingmultiple-finger input indicating one of zoom-in or zoom-out (optionalblock 435), in response to receiving the second user input, performing,with the computing system, corresponding one of zooming in or zoomingout of display of the plurality of video content in the grid pattern onthe at least a portion of the touchscreen display (optional block 440),and mirroring, with the computing system, the corresponding one ofzooming in or zooming out of the display of the plurality of videocontent in the grid pattern on the at least a portion of the displayscreen of the main display device (in some cases, in real time (or nearreal time)) (optional block 445).

In some cases, method 400 might further comprise receiving, with thecomputing system, a third user input via the touchscreen display of theuser device, the third user input comprising a second swipe in adiagonal direction relative to a reference point on the touchscreendisplay of the user device (optional block 450), in response toreceiving the third user input, shifting, with the computing system,display of the plurality of video content in the grid pattern (at itscurrent level of zoom) along the diagonal direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display (optional block 455), and mirroring,with the computing system, the display and the shifting of the displayof the plurality of video content in the grid pattern on the at least aportion of the display screen of the main display device (in some cases,in real time (or near real time)) (optional block 460), as shown, e.g.,in the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 3F, or the like. Method 400 mightcontinue onto the process at optional block 465 in FIG. 4C following thecircular marker denoted, “B.”

At optional block 465 in FIG. 4C (following the circular marker denoted,“B”), and with reference to the non-limiting embodiments of FIGS. 3A and3B (or the embodiment of FIG. 3F when zoomed in such that each videocontent when centered on the display screen substantially fills thedisplay screen), method 400 might comprise determining, with thecomputing system, whether the second video content fills at least half(or, in the embodiments with the grid pattern diagonal shifting, whetherthe second video content fills the majority compared with the otherthree video content) of the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay of the user device. Method 400, at optional block 470 mightcomprise, based on a determination that the second video content fillsless than half (or, in the embodiments with the grid pattern diagonalshifting, fills less than the majority compared with the other threevideo content) of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display ofthe user device, presenting or continuing presenting, with the computingsystem, first audio content associated with the first video content (orthe audio content associated the one of the other three video contentthat fills the majority compared with the second video content and theother two video content of the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay of the user device) through one or more audio playback devices(which might correspond to audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, 285, and290 of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like). Method 400 might furthercomprise, based on a determination that the second video content fillsat least half (or, in the embodiments with the grid pattern diagonalshifting, fills the majority compared with the other three videocontent) of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display of theuser device, presenting or continuing presenting, with the computingsystem, second audio content associated with the second video content(optional block 475) through the audio playback devices.

Further with respect to the embodiments with the grid pattern of videocontent (whether diagonal shifting, vertical shifting, horizontalshifting, or zooming in/out, or the like), although not shown in FIG. 4,the audio content that is presented is either the audio contentcorresponding to the video content that overlaps with at least one ofthe center of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display of theuser device and/or the center of the at least a portion of the displayscreen of the main display device, or the audio content corresponding tothe video content that has the largest proportion (compared with the oneor more other video content) that is displayed in the at least a portionof the touchscreen display of the user device or the at least a portionof the display screen of the main display device. Alternatively, oradditionally, although not shown in FIG. 4, the audio content that ispresented is either audio content corresponding to a user-selected videocontent among two or more video content or audio content correspondingto video content that covers a center position of the display area ofthe at least a portion of the touchscreen display of the user deviceand/or the center of the at least a portion of the display screen of themain display device. According to some embodiments, the audio shift (orthe transition of the audio playback) may be as described in detail inthe '031900US application, which has already been incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

In some embodiments, with reference to block 415 and/or optional block450, and with respect to the swipe functionality as described above withrespect to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3F, the user might be provided with fastswipe functionality (also referred to as “rapid swipe,” “quick swipe,”or the like), which allows for continuous and rapid shifting of multiplevideo content along a swipe direction (i.e., vertical as in embodiment300 of FIG. 3A, horizontal as in embodiment 300′ of FIG. 3B, diagonal asin embodiment 300″″ of FIG. 3F, or the like). In some cases, with thefast swipe functionality, the continuous and rapid shifting of themultiple video content might incorporate a virtual “frictional”component that slows the continuous shifting over time (not unlike aroulette wheel, a slot machine, or the like). Audible and/or visualeffects might be added to support the notion of rapid and continuousshifting of multiple video content sources, including, withoutlimitation, sound effects indicative of rapid video shifting, theslowing down of the continuous shifting over time due to a virtual“frictional” component, and/or the like. Alternatively, or additionally,for the fast swipe functionality, a user might stop the continuous andrapid shifting via user input including a tap and hold input, or thelike, that causes the shifting to stop with the video content under theuser's finger being stopped at its position within the at least one ofthe touchscreen display of the user device or of the display screen ofthe main display device. In this way, a user can quickly browse throughthe plurality of video content or channels (in some cases, until theuser closes in on the video content or channel of interest, then theuser can slowly swipe to find and select the desired video content orchannel).

Exemplary System and Hardware Implementation

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer or systemhardware architecture, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 5provides a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a computer system500 of the service provider system hardware that can perform the methodsprovided by various other embodiments, as described herein, and/or canperform the functions of computer or hardware system (i.e., computingsystems 105 a, 105 b, and 205, main display devices 115, 225, and 305,user devices 120, 255, and 310, audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, 285,and 290, video content sources (or servers) 135, etc.), as describedabove. It should be noted that FIG. 5 is meant only to provide ageneralized illustration of various components, of which one or more (ornone) of each may be utilized as appropriate. FIG. 5, therefore, broadlyillustrates how individual system elements may be implemented in arelatively separated or relatively more integrated manner.

The computer or hardware system 500—which might represent an embodimentof the computer or hardware system (i.e., computing systems 105 a, 105b, and 205, main display devices 115, 225, and 305, user devices 120,255, and 310, audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, 285, and 290, videocontent sources (or servers) 135, etc.), described above with respect toFIGS. 1-4—is shown comprising hardware elements that can be electricallycoupled via a bus 505 (or may otherwise be in communication, asappropriate). The hardware elements may include one or more processors510, including, without limitation, one or more general-purposeprocessors and/or one or more special-purpose processors (such asmicroprocessors, digital signal processing chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, and/or the like); one or more input devices 515, which caninclude, without limitation, a mouse, a keyboard and/or the like; andone or more output devices 520, which can include, without limitation, adisplay device, a printer, and/or the like.

The computer or hardware system 500 may further include (and/or be incommunication with) one or more storage devices 525, which can comprise,without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage, and/or caninclude, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, an opticalstorage device, solid-state storage device such as a random accessmemory (“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), and/or other forms ofvolatile and non-volatile storage, which can be programmable,flash-updateable and/or the like. Such storage devices may be configuredto implement any appropriate data stores, including, without limitation,various file systems, database structures, and/or the like.

The computer or hardware system 500 might also include a communicationssubsystem 530, which can include, without limitation, a modem, a networkcard (wireless or wired), an infra-red communication device, a wirelesscommunication device and/or chipset (such as a Bluetooth™ device, an802.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, a WWAN device, cellularcommunication facilities, etc.), and/or the like. The communicationssubsystem 530 may permit data to be exchanged with a network (such asthe network described below, to name one example), with other computeror hardware systems, and/or with any other devices described herein. Inmany embodiments, the computer or hardware system 500 will furthercomprise a working memory 535, which can include a RAM or ROM device, asdescribed above.

The computer or hardware system 500 also may comprise software elements,shown as being currently located within the working memory 535,including an operating system 540, device drivers, executable libraries,and/or other code, such as one or more application programs 545, whichmay comprise computer programs provided by various embodiments(including, without limitation, hypervisors, VMs, and the like), and/ormay be designed to implement methods, and/or configure systems, providedby other embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, oneor more procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussedabove might be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be encoded and/or storedon a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as thestorage device(s) 525 described above. In some cases, the storage mediummight be incorporated within a computer system, such as the system 500.In other embodiments, the storage medium might be separate from acomputer system (i.e., a removable medium, such as a compact disc,etc.), and/or provided in an installation package, such that the storagemedium can be used to program, configure and/or adapt a general purposecomputer with the instructions/code stored thereon. These instructionsmight take the form of executable code, which is executable by thecomputer or hardware system 500 and/or might take the form of sourceand/or installable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation onthe computer or hardware system 500 (e.g., using any of a variety ofgenerally available compilers, installation programs,compression/decompression utilities, etc.) then takes the form ofexecutable code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantialvariations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. Forexample, customized hardware (such as programmable logic controllers,field-programmable gate arrays, application-specific integratedcircuits, and/or the like) might also be used, and/or particularelements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portablesoftware, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to othercomputing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, some embodiments may employ acomputer or hardware system (such as the computer or hardware system500) to perform methods in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention. According to a set of embodiments, some or all of theprocedures of such methods are performed by the computer or hardwaresystem 500 in response to processor 510 executing one or more sequencesof one or more instructions (which might be incorporated into theoperating system 540 and/or other code, such as an application program545) contained in the working memory 535. Such instructions may be readinto the working memory 535 from another computer readable medium, suchas one or more of the storage device(s) 525. Merely by way of example,execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the workingmemory 535 might cause the processor(s) 510 to perform one or moreprocedures of the methods described herein.

The terms “machine readable medium” and “computer readable medium,” asused herein, refer to any medium that participates in providing datathat causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In an embodimentimplemented using the computer or hardware system 500, various computerreadable media might be involved in providing instructions/code toprocessor(s) 510 for execution and/or might be used to store and/orcarry such instructions/code (e.g., as signals). In manyimplementations, a computer readable medium is a non-transitory,physical, and/or tangible storage medium. In some embodiments, acomputer readable medium may take many forms, including, but not limitedto, non-volatile media, volatile media, or the like. Non-volatile mediaincludes, for example, optical and/or magnetic disks, such as thestorage device(s) 525. Volatile media includes, without limitation,dynamic memory, such as the working memory 535. In some alternativeembodiments, a computer readable medium may take the form oftransmission media, which includes, without limitation, coaxial cables,copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise the bus505, as well as the various components of the communication subsystem530 (and/or the media by which the communications subsystem 530 providescommunication with other devices). In an alternative set of embodiments,transmission media can also take the form of waves (including withoutlimitation radio, acoustic and/or light waves, such as those generatedduring radio-wave and infra-red data communications).

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chipor cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any othermedium from which a computer can read instructions and/or code.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 510for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or optical disc of a remote computer.A remote computer might load the instructions into its dynamic memoryand send the instructions as signals over a transmission medium to bereceived and/or executed by the computer or hardware system 500. Thesesignals, which might be in the form of electromagnetic signals, acousticsignals, optical signals, and/or the like, are all examples of carrierwaves on which instructions can be encoded, in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

The communications subsystem 530 (and/or components thereof) generallywill receive the signals, and the bus 505 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 535, from which the processor(s) 505 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 535 may optionally be stored on a storage device 525 eitherbefore or after execution by the processor(s) 510.

As noted above, a set of embodiments comprises methods and systems forimplementing media content streaming or playback, and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingcontent navigation or selection using touch-based input. FIG. 6illustrates a schematic diagram of a system 600 that can be used inaccordance with one set of embodiments. The system 600 can include oneor more user computers, user devices, or customer devices 605. A usercomputer, user device, or customer device 605 can be a general purposepersonal computer (including, merely by way of example, desktopcomputers, tablet computers, laptop computers, handheld computers, andthe like, running any appropriate operating system, several of which areavailable from vendors such as Apple, Microsoft Corp., and the like),cloud computing devices, a server(s), and/or a workstation computer(s)running any of a variety of commercially-available UNIX™ or UNIX-likeoperating systems. A user computer, user device, or customer device 605can also have any of a variety of applications, including one or moreapplications configured to perform methods provided by variousembodiments (as described above, for example), as well as one or moreoffice applications, database client and/or server applications, and/orweb browser applications. Alternatively, a user computer, user device,or customer device 605 can be any other electronic device, such as athin-client computer, Internet-enabled mobile telephone, and/or personaldigital assistant, capable of communicating via a network (e.g., thenetwork(s) 610 described below) and/or of displaying and navigating webpages or other types of electronic documents. Although the exemplarysystem 600 is shown with two user computers, user devices, or customerdevices 605, any number of user computers, user devices, or customerdevices can be supported.

Certain embodiments operate in a networked environment, which caninclude a network(s) 610. The network(s) 610 can be any type of networkfamiliar to those skilled in the art that can support datacommunications using any of a variety of commercially-available (and/orfree or proprietary) protocols, including, without limitation, TCP/IP,SNA™, IPX™, AppleTalk™, and the like. Merely by way of example, thenetwork(s) 610 (similar to network(s) 145 FIG. 1, or the like) can eachinclude a local area network (“LAN”), including, without limitation, afiber network, an Ethernet network, a Token-Ring™ network and/or thelike; a wide-area network (“WAN”); a wireless wide area network(“WWAN”); a virtual network, such as a virtual private network (“VPN”);the Internet; an intranet; an extranet; a public switched telephonenetwork (“PSTN”); an infra-red network; a wireless network, including,without limitation, a network operating under any of the IEEE 802.11suite of protocols, the Bluetooth™ protocol known in the art, and/or anyother wireless protocol; and/or any combination of these and/or othernetworks. In a particular embodiment, the network might include anaccess network of the service provider (e.g., an Internet serviceprovider (“ISP”)). In another embodiment, the network might include acore network of the service provider, and/or the Internet.

Embodiments can also include one or more server computers 615. Each ofthe server computers 615 may be configured with an operating system,including, without limitation, any of those discussed above, as well asany commercially (or freely) available server operating systems. Each ofthe servers 615 may also be running one or more applications, which canbe configured to provide services to one or more clients 605 and/orother servers 615.

Merely by way of example, one of the servers 615 might be a data server,a web server, a cloud computing device(s), or the like, as describedabove. The data server might include (or be in communication with) a webserver, which can be used, merely by way of example, to process requestsfor web pages or other electronic documents from user computers 605. Theweb server can also run a variety of server applications, including HTTPservers, FTP servers, CGI servers, database servers, Java servers, andthe like. In some embodiments of the invention, the web server may beconfigured to serve web pages that can be operated within a web browseron one or more of the user computers 605 to perform methods of theinvention.

The server computers 615, in some embodiments, might include one or moreapplication servers, which can be configured with one or moreapplications accessible by a client running on one or more of the clientcomputers 605 and/or other servers 615. Merely by way of example, theserver(s) 615 can be one or more general purpose computers capable ofexecuting programs or scripts in response to the user computers 605and/or other servers 615, including, without limitation, webapplications (which might, in some cases, be configured to performmethods provided by various embodiments). Merely by way of example, aweb application can be implemented as one or more scripts or programswritten in any suitable programming language, such as Java™, C, C#™ orC++, and/or any scripting language, such as Perl, Python, or TCL, aswell as combinations of any programming and/or scripting languages. Theapplication server(s) can also include database servers, including,without limitation, those commercially available from Oracle™,Microsoft™, Sybase™, IBM™, and the like, which can process requests fromclients (including, depending on the configuration, dedicated databaseclients, API clients, web browsers, etc.) running on a user computer,user device, or customer device 605 and/or another server 615. In someembodiments, an application server can perform one or more of theprocesses for implementing media content streaming or playback, and,more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingcontent navigation or selection using touch-based input, as described indetail above. Data provided by an application server may be formatted asone or more web pages (comprising HTML, JavaScript, etc., for example)and/or may be forwarded to a user computer 605 via a web server (asdescribed above, for example). Similarly, a web server might receive webpage requests and/or input data from a user computer 605 and/or forwardthe web page requests and/or input data to an application server. Insome cases, a web server may be integrated with an application server.

In accordance with further embodiments, one or more servers 615 canfunction as a file server and/or can include one or more of the files(e.g., application code, data files, etc.) necessary to implementvarious disclosed methods, incorporated by an application running on auser computer 605 and/or another server 615. Alternatively, as thoseskilled in the art will appreciate, a file server can include allnecessary files, allowing such an application to be invoked remotely bya user computer, user device, or customer device 605 and/or server 615.

It should be noted that the functions described with respect to variousservers herein (e.g., application server, database server, web server,file server, etc.) can be performed by a single server and/or aplurality of specialized servers, depending on implementation-specificneeds and parameters.

In certain embodiments, the system can include one or more databases 620a-620 n (collectively, “databases 620”). The location of each of thedatabases 620 is discretionary: merely by way of example, a database 620a might reside on a storage medium local to (and/or resident in) aserver 615 a (and/or a user computer, user device, or customer device605). Alternatively, a database 620 n can be remote from any or all ofthe computers 605, 615, so long as it can be in communication (e.g., viathe network 610) with one or more of these. In a particular set ofembodiments, a database 620 can reside in a storage-area network (“SAN”)familiar to those skilled in the art. (Likewise, any necessary files forperforming the functions attributed to the computers 605, 615 can bestored locally on the respective computer and/or remotely, asappropriate.) In one set of embodiments, the database 620 can be arelational database, such as an Oracle database, that is adapted tostore, update, and retrieve data in response to SQL-formatted commands.The database might be controlled and/or maintained by a database server,as described above, for example.

According to some embodiments, system 600 might further comprise acomputing system 625 (similar to computing systems 105 a, 105 b, and 205of FIGS. 1 and 2A, or the like), one or more main display devices 630each with display screen 630 a (similar to main display devices 115,225, and 305 of FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, and 3D-3G, or the like), one ormore user devices 635 each with touchscreen display 635 a (similar touser devices 120, 255, and 310 of FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, and 3D-3G, orthe like), one or more audio playback devices 640 a-640 n (similar toaudio playback devices 125 a-125 n, 285, and 290 of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B,or the like), one or more media (e.g., video) content sources 645 andcorresponding database(s) 650 (similar to media or video content sources(or servers) 135 and corresponding databases 140 of FIG. 1, or thelike), and/or the like. In some embodiments, the computing system mightcomprise a media device that is communicatively coupled to a playbackdevice(s) (i.e., one or more of main display device(s) 630, the userdevice(s) 105 or 635, and/or audio playback device(s) 640 a-640 n, orthe like). In some cases, the media device might comprise one of aset-top box (“STB”), a small streaming device (e.g., a “streamingstick,” or the like), a media player, a gaming console, a servercomputer, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer, and/or the like. Themedia player might comprise one of a digital versatile disc or digitalvideo disc (“DVD”) player, a Blu-ray disc (“BD”) player, a playersuitable for other forms of content storage media, a streaming videoplayer, a streaming music player, or a streaming game player, and/or thelike, while the playback device might comprise at least one of one ormore monitors, one or more television sets, or one or more speakers,and/or the like.

In operation, the computing system 625 (and/or the main display device630) might display a first video content on at least a portion of thedisplay screen 630 a of the main display device 630. The computingsystem 625 (and/or the user device 635 or 605) might display the firstvideo content on at least a portion of the touchscreen display 635 a ofthe user device 635 or 605, the first video content being displayed onthe at least a portion of the touchscreen display of the user devicemirroring (in some cases, in real time (or near real time)) the firstvideo content being displayed on the at least a portion of the displayscreen of the main display device. In some cases, the resolution of thefirst video content that is displayed on the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display 635 a might be different from the resolution of thefirst video content that is displayed on the at least a portion of thedisplay screen 630 a. The computing system 625 (and/or the user device635 or 605) might receive user input via the touchscreen display 635 aof the user device 635 or 605, the user input, in some cases, comprisinga first swipe in a first direction relative to a reference point on thetouchscreen display 635 a of the user device 635 or 605. In response toreceiving the user input, the computing system 625 (and/or the userdevice 635 or 605) might shift display of the first video content alongthe first direction on the at least a portion of the touchscreen display635 a while displaying and shifting display of, with the computingsystem, a second video content along the first direction on the at leasta portion of the touchscreen display 635 a such that the first videocontent and the second video content are adjacent to each other whiledisplay of the first video content and the second video content arebeing shifted. The computing system 625 (and/or main display device 630)might mirror the display and the shifting of the display of the firstvideo content and the second video content on the at least a portion ofthe display screen of the main display device (in some cases, in realtime (or near real time)). In other words, the user's channel changes orcontent selection (via user interaction with the touchscreen display)would be reflected instantly and synchronously on the main displaydevice.

In some embodiments, the shifting of the display of each of the firstvideo content or the second video content might comprise one of ascrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flipping effect, a transitioningeffect, or a dragging effect, and/or the like. Alternatively, oradditionally, the shifting of the display of each of the first videocontent or the second video content might comprise dynamic cropping ofeach of the first video content or the second video content such thatthe first video content and the second video content maintain theirdisplay resolution and size while both are being partially displayedduring shifting. In some cases, the first video content might be videocontent that is broadcast on a first broadcast channel, while the secondvideo content might be video content that is broadcast on a secondbroadcast channel. In some instances, the first video content and thesecond video content might be video content among a plurality of videocontent available for browsing or viewing in one of a video on demand(“VoD”) platform, a video streaming platform, or a digital videorecording (“DVR”) platform, and/or the like.

Merely by way of example, the swiping direction might be vertical,horizontal, or diagonal, and/or the like. The first and second videocontent can be part of a plurality of video content, which in some casesmight be arranged in a grid pattern, might be grouped by genre orcategory, might be episodes among a plurality of episodes in a series(or a season within a series), and/or the like. Additional user inputmight include zoom functionality. Hand gestures that are typically usedto manipulate graphical user interfaces—including, but not limited to,“zoom and pinch” finger gestures, or the like—can be used to zoom in andout of a content grid pattern, or the like. Other user input mightinclude fast swipe functionality, which allows for continuous and rapidshifting of multiple video content along a swipe direction (as describedin detail above with respect to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4).

In some embodiments, audio presentation during shifting or during gridview might include presentation, through one or more audio playbackdevices or speakers 640 a-640 n communicatively coupled to one of thecomputing system 625, the main display device 630, or the user device635 or 605, of one of audio content corresponding to a user-selectedvideo content among a plurality of video content, audio contentcorresponding to a video content among two or more video content thatfills a majority of the display area of the touchscreen display of theuser device or of the display screen of the main display device, audiocontent corresponding to a video content among two or more video contentthat covers a center position of the display area of the touchscreendisplay of the user device or of the display screen of the main displaydevice, and/or the like.

According to some embodiments, the computing system 625 (and/or at leastone of the user device 635 or 605 or the main display device 630) mightdisplay content information associated with one or more of the videocontent on corresponding at least one of the touchscreen display of theuser device or of the display screen of the main display device. Thecontent information might include, but is not limited to, one or more ofchannel or stream information; title or name of video content; briefdescription of video content; information regarding actors, directors,production crew, studio, or persons of interest associated with thevideo content; length of video content; remaining length of videocontent playback; trailers; related content (e.g., prequels, sequels,other episodes in earlier seasons, other episodes in current season,other episodes in later seasons, etc.); filming locations; stillpictures associated with the video content; trivia; and/or the like. Insome embodiments, the content information might be either displayedoverlaid over the corresponding video content or displayed in a separateportion of the at least one of the touchscreen display of the userdevice or of the display screen of the main display device on whichneither the video content nor any other video content are beingdisplayed.

These and other functions of the system 600 (and its components) aredescribed in greater detail above with respect to FIGS. 1-4.

While certain features and aspects have been described with respect toexemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize thatnumerous modifications are possible. For example, the methods andprocesses described herein may be implemented using hardware components,software components, and/or any combination thereof. Further, whilevarious methods and processes described herein may be described withrespect to particular structural and/or functional components for easeof description, methods provided by various embodiments are not limitedto any particular structural and/or functional architecture but insteadcan be implemented on any suitable hardware, firmware and/or softwareconfiguration. Similarly, while certain functionality is ascribed tocertain system components, unless the context dictates otherwise, thisfunctionality can be distributed among various other system componentsin accordance with the several embodiments.

Moreover, while the procedures of the methods and processes describedherein are described in a particular order for ease of description,unless the context dictates otherwise, various procedures may bereordered, added, and/or omitted in accordance with various embodiments.Moreover, the procedures described with respect to one method or processmay be incorporated within other described methods or processes;likewise, system components described according to a particularstructural architecture and/or with respect to one system may beorganized in alternative structural architectures and/or incorporatedwithin other described systems. Hence, while various embodiments aredescribed with—or without—certain features for ease of description andto illustrate exemplary aspects of those embodiments, the variouscomponents and/or features described herein with respect to a particularembodiment can be substituted, added and/or subtracted from among otherdescribed embodiments, unless the context dictates otherwise.Consequently, although several exemplary embodiments are describedabove, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to coverall modifications and equivalents within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: displaying, with acomputing system, a first video content on at least a portion of adisplay screen of a main display device; displaying, with the computingsystem, the first video content on at least a portion of a touchscreendisplay of a user device, the first video content being displayed on theat least a portion of the touchscreen display of the user devicemirroring the first video content being displayed on the at least aportion of the display screen of the main display device; receiving,with the computing system, user input via the touchscreen display of theuser device, the user input comprising a first swipe in a firstdirection relative to a reference point on the touchscreen display ofthe user device; in response to receiving the user input, shifting, withthe computing system, display of the first video content along the firstdirection on the at least a portion of the touchscreen display whiledisplaying and shifting display of, with the computing system, a secondvideo content along the first direction on the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display such that the first video content and the secondvideo content are adjacent to each other while display of the firstvideo content and the second video content are being shifted; andmirroring, with the computing system, the display and the shifting ofthe display of the first video content and the second video content onthe at least a portion of the display screen of the main display device.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing system comprises one ofa set-top box, a small streaming device, a digital video recording(“DVR”) device, a processor on the main display device running asoftware application (“app”), a processor on the user device running anapp, a server computer over a network, a cloud-based computing systemover a network, a media player, or a gaming console.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the main display device comprises one of a televisionset, a smart television, a projection system, a computer monitor, or alaptop monitor.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user devicecomprises one of a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, amobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a remote control device, ora portable gaming device.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shiftingof the display of each of the first video content or the second videocontent comprises one of a scrolling effect, a sliding effect, aflipping effect, a transitioning effect, or a dragging effect.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the shifting of the display of each of thefirst video content or the second video content comprises dynamiccropping of each of the first video content or the second video contentsuch that the first video content and the second video content maintaintheir display resolution and size while both are being partiallydisplayed during shifting.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstvideo content is video content that is broadcast on a first broadcastchannel, while the second video content is video content that isbroadcast on a second broadcast channel.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the first video content and the second video content are videocontent among a plurality of video content available for browsing orviewing in one of a video on demand (“VoD”) platform, a video streamingplatform, or a digital video recording (“DVR”) platform.
 9. The methodof claim 1, wherein mirroring the display and the shifting of thedisplay of the first video content and the second video content on theat least a portion of the display screen of the main display devicecomprises mirroring, with the computing system, the display and theshifting of the display of the first video content and the second videocontent on the at least a portion of the display screen of the maindisplay device, in real time or near real time.
 10. The method of claim1, wherein the first direction is one of a vertical direction withrespect to a viewing orientation of the first video content or ahorizontal direction with respect to the viewing orientation of thefirst video content.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first videocontent and the second video content are video content among a pluralityof video content that are arranged in a grid pattern with one videocontent being adjacent to eight video content, wherein the firstdirection is one of a diagonal direction with respect to a viewingorientation of the first video content, wherein, in response toreceiving the user input comprising a swipe in the diagonal direction,portions of the plurality of video content in the grid pattern isshifted along the diagonal direction on one or both of the touchscreendisplay of the user device or the display screen of the main displaydevice.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, withthe computing system, a second user input via the touchscreen display ofthe user device, the second user input comprising multiple-finger inputindicating one of zoom-in or zoom-out; in response to receiving thesecond user input, performing, with the computing system, correspondingone of zooming in or zooming out of display of the plurality of videocontent in the grid pattern on the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay; and mirroring, with the computing system, the corresponding oneof zooming in or zooming out of the display of the plurality of videocontent in the grid pattern on the at least a portion of the displayscreen of the main display device.
 13. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: determining, with the computing system, whether the user hasselected one of the plurality of video content; based on a determinationthat the user has selected one of the plurality of video content,presenting or continuing presenting, with the computing system, audiocontent associated with the selected one of the plurality of videocontent; and based on a determination that the user has not selected anyof the plurality of video content, identifying, with the computingsystem, which one of the plurality of video content covers a centerposition of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display, andpresenting or continuing presenting, with the computing system, audiocontent associated with the identified video content that covers thecenter position of the at least a portion of the touchscreen display;wherein the audio content is presented using at least one of an audioplayback device that is integrated within the main display device, anaudio playback device that is external yet communicatively coupled tothe main display device, an audio playback device that is integratedwithin the user device, or an audio playback device that is external yetcommunicatively coupled to the user device.
 14. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining, with the computing system, whether thesecond video content fills at least half of the at least a portion ofthe touchscreen display of the user device; based on a determinationthat the second video content fills less than half of the at least aportion of the touchscreen display of the user device, presenting orcontinuing presenting, with the computing system, first audio contentassociated with the first video content; and based on a determinationthat the second video content fills at least half of the at least aportion of the touchscreen display of the user device, presenting orcontinuing presenting, with the computing system, second audio contentassociated with the second video content; wherein each of the firstaudio content or the second audio content is presented using at leastone of an audio playback device that is integrated within the maindisplay device, an audio playback device that is external yetcommunicatively coupled to the main display device, an audio playbackdevice that is integrated within the user device, or an audio playbackdevice that is external yet communicatively coupled to the user device.15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying, with thecomputing system, content information associated with each of at leastone of the first video content or the second video content on one orboth of the display screen of the main display device or the touchscreendisplay of the user device, wherein the content information is eitherdisplayed overlaid over corresponding at least one of the first videocontent or the second video content or displayed in a separate portionof the one or both of the display screen of the main display device orthe touchscreen display of the user device on which neither the firstvideo content nor the second video content are being displayed.
 16. Anapparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and a non-transitorycomputer readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least oneprocessor, the non-transitory computer readable medium having storedthereon computer software comprising a set of instructions that, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to: displaya first video content on at least a portion of a display screen of amain display device; display the first video content on at least aportion of a touchscreen display of a user device, the first videocontent being displayed on the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay of the user device mirroring the first video content beingdisplayed on the at least a portion of the display screen of the maindisplay device; receive user input via the touchscreen display of theuser device, the user input comprising a first swipe in a firstdirection relative to a reference point on the touchscreen display ofthe user device; in response to receiving the user input, shift displayof the first video content along the first direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display while displaying and shifting displayof a second video content along the first direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display such that the first video content andthe second video content are adjacent to each other while display of thefirst video content and the second video content are being shifted; andmirror the display and the shifting of the display of the first videocontent and the second video content on the at least a portion of thedisplay screen of the main display device.
 17. The apparatus of claim16, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a set-top box, a smallstreaming device, a digital video recording (“DVR”) device, a processoron the main display device running a software application (“app”), aprocessor on the user device running an app, a server computer over anetwork, a cloud-based computing system over a network, a media player,or a gaming console.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the maindisplay device comprises one of a television set, a smart television, aprojection system, a computer monitor, or a laptop monitor.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the user device comprises one of a laptopcomputer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personaldigital assistant, a remote control device, or a portable gaming device.20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the shifting of the display ofeach of the first video content or the second video content comprisesone of a scrolling effect, a sliding effect, a flipping effect, atransitioning effect, or a dragging effect.
 21. The apparatus of claim16, wherein the shifting of the display of each of the first videocontent or the second video content comprises dynamic cropping of eachof the first video content or the second video content such that thefirst video content and the second video content maintain their displayresolution and size while both are being partially displayed duringshifting.
 22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first video contentis video content that is broadcast on a first broadcast channel, whilethe second video content is video content that is broadcast on a secondbroadcast channel.
 23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the firstvideo content and the second video content are video content among aplurality of video content available for browsing or viewing in one of avideo on demand (“VoD”) platform, a video streaming platform, or adigital video recording (“DVR”) platform.
 24. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein the first direction is one of a vertical direction with respectto a viewing orientation of the first video content or a horizontaldirection with respect to the viewing orientation of the first videocontent.
 25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first video contentand the second video content are video content among a plurality ofvideo content that are arranged in a grid pattern with one video contentbeing adjacent to eight video content, wherein the first direction isone of a diagonal direction with respect to a viewing orientation of thefirst video content, wherein, in response to receiving the user inputcomprising a swipe in the diagonal direction, portions of the pluralityof video content in the grid pattern is shifted along the diagonaldirection on one or both of the touchscreen display of the user deviceor the display screen of the main display device.
 26. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the at leastone processor, further causes the apparatus to: receive a second userinput via the touchscreen display of the user device, the second userinput comprising multiple-finger input indicating one of zoom-in orzoom-out; in response to receiving the second user input, performcorresponding one of zooming in or zooming out of display of theplurality of video content in the grid pattern on the at least a portionof the touchscreen display; and mirror the corresponding one of zoomingin or zooming out of the display of the plurality of video content inthe grid pattern on the at least a portion of the display screen of themain display device.
 27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the set ofinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, furthercauses the apparatus to: determine whether the user has selected one ofthe plurality of video content; based on a determination that the userhas selected one of the plurality of video content, present or continuepresenting audio content associated with the selected one of theplurality of video content; based on a determination that the user hasnot selected any of the plurality of video content, identify which oneof the plurality of video content covers a center position of the atleast a portion of the touchscreen display, and present or continuepresenting audio content associated with the identified video contentthat covers the center position of the at least a portion of thetouchscreen display; wherein the audio content is presented using atleast one of an audio playback device that is integrated within the maindisplay device, an audio playback device that is external yetcommunicatively coupled to the main display device, an audio playbackdevice that is integrated within the user device, or an audio playbackdevice that is external yet communicatively coupled to the user device.28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, further causes the apparatus to:determine whether the second video content fills at least half of the atleast a portion of the touchscreen display of the user device; based ona determination that the second video content fills less than half ofthe at least a portion of the touchscreen display of the user device,present or continue presenting first audio content associated with thefirst video content; and based on a determination that the second videocontent fills at least half of the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay of the user device, present or continue presenting second audiocontent associated with the second video content; wherein each of thefirst audio content or the second audio content is presented using atleast one of an audio playback device that is integrated within the maindisplay device, an audio playback device that is external yetcommunicatively coupled to the main display device, an audio playbackdevice that is integrated within the user device, or an audio playbackdevice that is external yet communicatively coupled to the user device.29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, further causes the apparatus to:display content information associated with each of at least one of thefirst video content or the second video content on one or both of thedisplay screen of the main display device or the touchscreen display ofthe user device, wherein the content information is either displayedoverlaid over corresponding at least one of the first video content orthe second video content or displayed in a separate portion of the oneor both of the display screen of the main display device or thetouchscreen display of the user device on which neither the first videocontent nor the second video content are being displayed.
 30. A system,comprising: a computing system, comprising: at least one firstprocessor; and a first non-transitory computer readable mediumcommunicatively coupled to the at least one first processor, the firstnon-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computersoftware comprising a first set of instructions that, when executed bythe at least one first processor, causes the computing system to: send afirst video content to a main display device for display of the firstvideo content on the main display device; and send the first videocontent to a user device for display of the first video content on thedisplay device, the first video content being displayed on the userdevice mirroring the first video content being displayed on the maindisplay device; the main display device, comprising: a display screen;at least one second processor; and a second non-transitory computerreadable medium communicatively coupled to the at least one secondprocessor, the second non-transitory computer readable medium havingstored thereon computer software comprising a second set of instructionsthat, when executed by the at least one second processor, causes themain display device to: receive the first video content from thecomputing system; and display the first video content on at least aportion of the display screen of the main display device; and the userdevice, comprising: a touchscreen display; at least one third processor;and a third non-transitory computer readable medium communicativelycoupled to the at least one third processor, the third non-transitorycomputer readable medium having stored thereon computer softwarecomprising a third set of instructions that, when executed by the atleast one third processor, causes the user device to: receive the firstvideo content from the computing system; display the first video contenton at least a portion of the touchscreen display of the user device;receive user input via the touchscreen display of the user device, theuser input comprising a first swipe in a first direction relative to areference point on the touchscreen display of the user device; and relaythe received user input to the computing system; wherein the first setof instructions, when executed by the at least one first processor,further causes the computing system to: receive the user input from theuser device; in response to receiving the user input, send displaycommands to the user device to shift display of the first video contentalong the first direction on the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay while displaying and shifting display of a second video contentalong the first direction on the at least a portion of the touchscreendisplay such that the first video content and the second video contentare adjacent to each other while display of the first video content andthe second video content are being shifted; and send display commands tothe main display device to mirror the display and shifting of thedisplay of the first video content and the second video content on theat least a portion of the display screen of the main display device;wherein the third set of instructions, when executed by the at least onethird processor, further causes the user device to: in response toreceiving display commands from the computing system, shift display ofthe first video content along the first direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display while displaying and shifting displayof a second video content along the first direction on the at least aportion of the touchscreen display such that the first video content andthe second video content are adjacent to each other while display of thefirst video content and the second video content are being shifted; andwherein the second set of instructions, when executed by the at leastone second processor, further causes the main display device to: inresponse to receiving display commands from the computing system, mirrorthe display and shifting of the display of the first video content andthe second video content on the at least a portion of the display screenof the main display device.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein thecomputing system comprises one of a set-top box, a small streamingdevice, a digital video recording (“DVR”) device, a processor on themain display device running a software application (“app”), a processoron the user device running an app, a server computer over a network, acloud-based computing system over a network, a media player, or a gamingconsole.
 32. The system of claim 30, wherein the main display devicecomprises one of a television set, a smart television, a projectionsystem, a computer monitor, or a laptop monitor.
 33. The system of claim30, wherein the user device comprises one of a laptop computer, a tabletcomputer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, aremote control device, or a portable gaming device.